Fluorescence spectra of fluorobenzene cations excited in a supersonic molecular beam

Fluorescence spectra of several fluorobenzene cations in the gas phase have been observed following electron impact on a supersonic beam of the neutral molecule. The very low rotational temperature of the beam is not disturbed by the ionisation process, so the different vibronic states of the cation ar produced rotationally cold; the fluorescence spectra are therefore very simple as every vibronic band has been condensed into a very few rotational com Vibrational frequencies obtained from the analyses agree excellently with values from other techniques. The effects of Jahn—Teller distortion are cle in the spectra of C6F6+ and 1,3,5-C6F3H3+.