Microwave spectroscopy of the PBr radical in the X Σ − 3 state

The microwave spectrum of the PBr radical in the X Σ − 3 ground electronic state has been observed by a source modulated spectrometer. The PBr radical was generated in a free space cell by an ac∕dc glow discharge in a mixture of P Br 3 with He and∕or H 2 . A spectrum with three spin components for each of the two isotopomers, P Br 79 and P Br 81 , was observed. The spectrum showed hyperfine splitting caused by interactions due to both bromine and phosphorus nuclei. The molecular constants including the magnetic hyperfine and nuclear quadrupole hyperfine interaction constants were determined by analyzing the observed spectrum. The spin density of the unpaired electrons was estimated from the observed hyperfine coupling constants to be 85.4% and 16.3% on the phosphorus and bromine atoms, respectively.