Detection of the millimeter wave spectra of the weakly bound complexes 3He–CO and 4He–CO

Abstract

For the first time, millimeter wave absorption spectra of the van der Waals complexes 3He–CO and 4He–CO were detected in a supersonic jet. Altogether four rotational transitions of 3He–CO and six rotational transitions of 4He–CO were recorded between 110 GHz and 127 GHz with an intracavity spectrometer based on the millimeter wave generator, called OROTRON. The obtained results were included in a global fit together with previously known data enabling a more precise determination of the energy levels of the 3He–CO and 4He–CO complexes. In extremely cold, dark, and dense interstellar clouds the He–CO complex may have astrophysical relevance.