Laser-induced fluorescence excitation spectroscopy of the magnesium oxide B1Σ+-A1II system

Excitation scans of the MgO B(1)Sigma (+)-A(1)Pi transition were made in a seeded acetylene-air flame. The combustion of magnesium in oxygen and carbon dioxide is well known and is of significant interest for fire safety, solid propellant applications, and recently for use as an in situ resource propellant for planetary exploration of Mars. This spectroscopic study expands the available data on this electronic transition, particularly data at high rotational states that are lacking in the literature. Rotational parameters of the v = 0, 1, and 2 states of B(1)Sigma (+) are derived. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.