Communication: The ground electronic state of Si2C: Rovibrational level structure, quantum monodromy, and astrophysical implications

We report the gas-phase optical detection of Si2C near 390 nm and the first experimental investigation of the rovibrational structure of its (1)A(1) ground electronic state using mass-resolved and fluorescence spectroscopy and variational calculations performed on a high-level ab initio potential. From this joint study, it is possible to assign all observed K-a = 1 vibrational levels up to 3800 cm(-1) with confidence, as well as a number of levels in the K-a = 0, 2, and 3 manifolds. Dixon-dip plots for the bending coordinate (nu(2)) allow an experimental determination of a barrier to linearity of 783(48) cm(-1) (2 sigma), in good agreement with theory (802(9) cm(-1)). The calculated (K-a, nu(2)) eigenvalue lattice shows an archetypal example of quantum monodromy (absence of a globally valid set of quantum numbers) that is reflected by the experimentally observed rovibrational levels. The present study provides a solid foundation for infrared and optical surveys of Si2C in astronomical objects, particularly in the photosphere of N- and J-type carbon stars where the isovalent SiC2 molecule is known to be abundant. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.