Magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy of matrix-isolated species

Abstract

An apparatus is described for measuring the magnetic circular dichroism spectra of matrix-isolated species over the temperature range 14–50 K. Results are presented illustrating the range of materials which can be investigated (from mercury atoms to phthalocyanine molecules). The detection of transitions in oxygen, which are extremely weak in absorption, clearly demonstrates the high sensitivity of magnetic circular dichroism measurements on paramagnetic species at low temperature.