LIF spectroscopy of ScP

The electronic transition 1Σ+–X1Σ+ of scandium monophosphide (ScP) has been observed around 11 900 cm−1 using laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy. This is the first observation of the ScP spectrum. The spectrum covering ten vibronic bands with v up to 4 was assigned and analyzed. Molecular constants for the vibronic levels involved were obtained by least-squares fitting of the measured line positions. The equilibrium bond length in the upper 1Σ+ state was found to be 2.1590 Å, which was slightly shorter than that of 2.1995 Å in the X1Σ+ state, in agreement with results from recent calculations.