High-order resonances in the water molecule

The water-vapor spectra in the near-infrared and visible region were reanalyzed with the purpose of finding experimental evidences of unusual high-order resonance between dark high-bending and bright stretch vibration states. About 70 transitions to the (050), (060), (070), (080), (160), (061), (170), (071), and, even (0 10 0) bending states, and their resonating partners were assigned in the spectra that gives the experimental energy levels lying near or above the potential energy barrier to linearity. The assignments were confirmed by combination differences and simultaneous observation of both perturbed and perturbing levels. It was found that the high-order resonances with large changing of vibration quantum numbers are typical for the water molecule and they are caused by the strong centrifugal distortion near the linear configuration. These resonances destroy the usual polyad scheme originating from well-known Coriolis, Darling-Dennison, and Fermi resonances in H2O molecule. (C) 2001 Academic Press.