Collision Broadening Of The Microwave Spectrum Of Methyl Chloride By Hydrogen And Argon At Pressures Up To 100 Atmospheres

Abstract

Measurements are reported of the absorption of microwaves with frequencies in the range 9'65-9' 92 Gcls by binary mixtures of methyl chloride with hydrogen and argon at pressures up to 100 atm. The results are interpreted in terms of the collision broadening of the inversion and rotational spectra of methyl chloride by the foreign gases. Reasonable agreement between experiment and the Van Vleck and Weisskopf theory of collision broadening is found in the case of hydrogen and the collision diameter for broadening of the rotational lines by hydrogen is found to be approximately 2·7 A. For methyl chloride-argon mixtures the agreement is far less satisfactory and it appears that the theory requires modification.