LAUSR

Abstract Non-equilibrium ThO(X) that was vibrationally hot but rotationally cold was produced by pulsed laser vaporization followed by supersonic expansion. This source was ideal for spectroscopic investigations of vibrationally excited levels of both the ground and electronically excited states. Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to characterize vibrationally excited levels of the X, C, D, E, F and I states. Data for the ground state have been used to determine the potential energy curve for the energy range 0–13000 cm−1. In addition, transitions to newly identified states O′(0+) and L′(1) are tentatively assigned. The results are found to be in reasonable agreement with the predictions of ligand field theory models.