AbstractsPhysics

A sensitive microwave spectrometer which operates over the range V = 0.715 cm^-1 to V = 0.870 cm^-1 has been constructed and used to study molecular absorption spectra of numerous gases. The spectral lines in this region of NH3, H2O, HDO, OCS, and CH3OH, which had been reported in the literature, have been confirmed with this instrument. In the spectrum of CH3OH a new line has been found, having a frequency of 24,926 megacycles. Thirty-four other compounds which showed theoretical possibilities of possessing spectral lines in this region have been studied, but no new lines have been found. A modification of the spectrometer has been effected to allow the Stark effect on the strongest NH3 spectral line to be observed and measured. The effect is a simple frequency shift proportional to the square of the applied electric field as is predicted by elementary theory.