Rotational Raman spectroscopy

Raman scattering could also appears when molecule change their rotational energy:
- Pure rotational Raman spectra
- Roto-vibrational Raman spectra

► The first requirement: the polarizability of the molecule must be anisotropic

(it must depend on the orientation of the molecule).

► Raman spectroscopy is less restrictive than pure rotational spectroscopy:

Linear symmetric molecules do have rotational Raman spectra.
Linear symmetric molecules (CO2, O2, N2) do not have pure rotational spectra (do
not possess permanent dipole moments).

► Spherical top molecules such as CH4 and SF6 still do not have rotational
Raman spectra as they do not have an anisotropic polarizability.
Raman selection rules
Vibrational Raman:
► Polarisability of molecule must change
during a particular vibration (gross selection rule)
► Δv = ± 1 (vibrational quantum number) (specific
selection rule)

Rotational Raman:
► Anisotropic polarisability: the polarizability of the
molecule must depend on the molecule orientation (i.e.
molecule must not be spherically symmetric: CH4, SF6, ...)
► ΔJ = ± 2 ( rotational quantum number) (specific selection rule)

Roto-vibrational Raman:
► Combined: anisotropic polarizability which
polarizability change during vibration
► Δv = ± 1, ΔJ = 0, ± 2
Polarizability of molecules during rotation

► An electric field applied to a molecule results in its

distortion, and the distorted molecule acquires a
contribution to its dipole moment (even if it is nonpolar
initially).
The polarizability may be different when the field is
applied (a) parallel or (b) perpendicular to the molecular
axis (or, in general, in different directions relative to the
molecule); if that is so, then the molecule has an
anisotropic polarizability.

►The distortion induced in a molecule by an

applied electric field returns to its initial
value after a rotation of only 180° (that is,
twice a revolution).

This is the origin of the J = ±2 selection

rule in rotational Raman spectroscopy.
 Classical theory of rotational Raman spectroscopy

The amplitude of the oscillating electric field can be represented by:

E(t) = E0cosωt = E0cos 2lasert

The variation of polarizability during rotation:

α(t) =α0 +α1 cos2 (2rot)t

Dipole moment will change according to:

μ(t) =α(t)E(t) = [α0 +α1cos 2 (2rot)t][E0cos 2lasert]

Using a trigonometric formula (cos(a)  cos(b) = 1/2[cos(a+b) + cos(a-b)]), the

dipole moment can be expressed like:

μ(t) = α0E0cos 2lasert + 1/2α1E0cos2(laser -2rot)t] + 1/2α1E0cos2(laser +2rot)t]

Rayleight Stokes Anti-Stokes

The rotation of the molecule leads to a periodic modulation of the dipole moment
induced by e field of the laser, and those to a modulation of the frequency of the
scattered radiation (with 2rot). The additional lines accompanying the Rayleight signal
occurs at spacing corresponding to twice the rotational frequency.
 Quantum theory of rotational Raman spectroscopy

The classical explanation for the occurrence of the doubled rotational frequency in
the spacing of the rotational Raman lines is reproduced in quantum mechanics in terms
of modified selection rules which correspond to a two phonon process.
The quantum-mechanical treatment of rotational Raman effect (inelastic photon
scattering, accompanied by the uptake or release of rotational quanta) leads to the
selection rule J = 2 in the case of the linear rotor.

Pure rotational energy levels of linear molecules are:

E J  hc[BJ(J  1)  DJ2 (J  1) 2 ] J  0, 1, 2, ...
In Raman spectroscopy, the precision of the measurements does not justify the
retention of the term involving D, the centrifugal distortion constant, so that the
above expression simplifies to:

E J  hcBJ(J  1)

In rotational Raman, for a linear molecule, the selection rule for J is: ΔJ = ± 2
(as opposed to ΔJ = ± 1 in pure rotational spectroscopy)

If ΔJ = 0 we obtaine Rayleigh line!

The rotational Raman selection rules: Δ J = ±2

The form of a typical

rotational Raman spectrum.
EJ = hcBJ(J +1) Pure rotational Raman spectrum

E0 = 0
E1 = 2Bhc
E2 = 6Bhc
E3 = 12Bhc
E4 = 20Bhc
E5 = 30Bhc

The lines intensity follow the rotational levels population!

Rayleight Ray = laser

Stokes Stokes = laser- rot the molecule gain rotational energy, ΔJ = +2
Anti-Stokes AntiStokes = laser+ rot the molecule lose rotational energy, ΔJ = -2
E J =hcBJ ( J+1) J - the rotational quantum number of initial state

The wavenumber of the Raman rotational transition (Raman Shift):

(E J  2  E J )  2B2J  3 J  0,1,2... J  2
1
Stokes  Rot 
hc
 (E J  E J  2 )  2B2J  1 J  2,3,4... J  2
1
Anti-Stokes  Rot
hc
The wavenumber of the Raman rotational scattered radiation:

Stokes:  J J  2    laser  2B2J  3 J  0,1, 2 ...

Anti-Stokes:  J J 2    laser  2B2J  1 J  2, 3, 4 ...

Stokes:  0   laser  6B Anti-Stokes:  2   laser  6B

 1   laser  10B  3   laser  10B
 2   laser  14B  4   laser  14B

The lines (in Sokes and anti-Stokes branches) are spaced with 4B!
First lines from Stokes and Anti-Stokes branches are spaced with 6B relative to
Rayleigh line!
Intensity alternation of the
rotational Raman lines

- the result of nuclear statistics

(sometime missing lines!)

- the result of symmetry

Nuclear spin statistics

determine whether or not rotation
al levels in symmetric molecules
actually exist!

The Pauli Principle: “Any acceptable wavefunction must be anti-symmetric with

respect to the exchange of two identical fermions and totally symmetric with respect
to the exchange of two identical bosons”
If the mass number is even: I is integral such nuclei are Bosons (2k)
odd: I is half-integral such nuclei are Fermions (2k+1)
I - the nuclear quantum number (corresponding to nuclear spin angular momentum).

The nuclear spin can have an important influence on the appearance of rotational
spectra of molecules with a center of inversion.
 Nuclear spin statistics must be taken into account whenever a rotation interchanges
identical nuclei.

Following the Pauli Principle:

a system of fermions (particles with

half-integer spin) has to be anti-
symmetric with respect to exchange of
the nuclei (negative parity),

a system of bosons (particles with

integral spin) has to be symmetric with
respect to exchange of the nuclei(positive
parity).

• The rotational Raman spectrum of a diatomic molecule with two identical spin (1/2)
nuclei shows an alternation in intensity as a result of nuclear statistics.

• For some molecules, in the Raman spectra is missing every other line.
 Parity of ψrot :

ψrot with J = 0; 2; 4 … corresponds to positive parity,

ψrot with J = 1; 3; 5 … corresponds to negative parity.

Generally, the ratio of symmetric and anti-symmetric states is:

 I
if I  1/2
Number of anti - symmetric states (odd J)  I  1

Number of symmetric states (even J)  I  1 if I 1
 I

Examples:

Rotational Raman spectra of H2: (H  fermion (I=1/2 for individual nuclei)

- the lines corresponding to transitions 0 ---> 2, 2 ---> 4, etc. will be one-third times
as large as those corresponding to transitions 1 ---> 3, 3 ---> 5, etc.

In H2 both ψvib (whatever the value of v) and ψel, in the ground electronic state, are
symmetric to nuclear exchange, so we need to consider only the behaviour of ψrot
and ψns (the nuclear spin wavefunction).
 Ortho- and Para-Forms of H2

For ortho-H2 (with I = 1 and positive parity of the nuclear spin function) we have
rotational states with negative parity, i.e. J = 1; 3; 5, …,
For para-H2 (with I = 0 and negative parity of the nuclear spin function) we have
rotational states with positive parity, i.e. J = 0,2,4, …

For low temperatures only p-H2 is stable; o-H2 is metastable

For 2D (with the nuclei being bosons (I = 1 for the individual nuclei), the inverse is
true, i.e. at low temperatures only o-2D2 is stable.

Usually, at higher temperatures, there is thermal equilibrium between the two 1H2
modifications, so H2 is a mixture of o-H2 and p-H2 with a ratio of 3:1.
Consequences of nuclear spin

1) There are no transitions with ΔJ = ±1 and thus no rotational transitions in IR

absorption. However, for H2 these are forbidden anyway because of the zero
dipole moment.

2) Rotational Raman lines with ΔJ = ±2 are allowed. They correspond to

(alternating) orto-H2 and para-H2. This gives rise to alternating (3:1) intensities.
Other molecules

Rotational Raman spectra of 19F2 is similar to 1H2 (ratio 3:1).

Rotational Raman spectra of 14N is similar to 2D2 (ratio 2:1).

2

For 16O2 we have the special case of I = 0,

All rotational levels with even J (0 ,2, 4,..) are completely missing
(the electronic wavefunction in the ground state (3Σg−) has negative parity, and in
order to obtain the symmetric total wavefunction required for bosons, the rotational
levels must have negative parity).
the transitions 1---> 3, 3 ---> 5, 5---> 7 may be seen,
the transitions 0 --- > 2, 2 ---> 4, 4 ---> 6 are missing

Rotational Raman spectra of CO2:

For C16O2 (triatomic molecule with a centre of inversion) similar arguments apply.
The electronic wavefunction in the ground state (1Σg +) has positive parity and
thus rotational levels with odd J are missing.
the transitions 0 --- > 2, 2 ---> 4, 4 ---> 6 may be seen,
the transitions 1---> 3, 3 ---> 5, 5---> 7 are missing
If the nuclear spin is zero (I = 0), we can consider that there is no spin wavefunction,
thus we can ignore it!
Symmetric top molecule

Only end-over-end rotations produce a change in the polarizability in the case of the
symmetric top molecules (a molecule in which two moments of inertia are the same).
The energy levels:

The Raman selection rules for a symmetric top molecule are:

K = 0
 J = 0, 1, 2 (except for K = 0 states, when  J =  2 only)
A symmetric top molecule has anisotropic polarizability.
This selection rule holds for any K. There are two cases:

(1) J =  1 (R branch)
Lines at ER = 2B(J+1) J = 1, 2, .. but J ≠ 0

(2) J =  2 (S branch)
Lines at ES = 2B(2J+3) J = 0, 1, 2, ..
The spectrum shows a complex intensity structure
(not to be confused with nuclear spin effects), but
the basic line spacing is now 2B, rather than 4B as
in the case of linear molecules.
 Roto-vibrational spectroscopy

Infrared spectrum Raman spectrum

 v = 1; J = 1,  v = 1; J = 0, 2

P, Q, R branches O, Q, S branches
Roto-vibrational Raman Spectra

Pure vibration
Diatomic molecule (linear)

Selection rule: ΔJ =0, ±2 Δv = 1

ΔJ = 0 Q branch (vibr)
ΔJ = -2 O branch: lose rotational energy
ΔJ = +2 S branch: gain rotational energy

Q Q
Q

O and S branch will apear in Stokes and

anti-Stokes part of the Raman spectrum!
 Stokes domain!

O v 1, J  2   hc(E  v 1, J  2   E  v 0, J  )   v  B4J  2  Raman shift

 Osc   exc  v  B4J  2 wavenumber of scattered radiation

Q v 1, J 0   hc(E  v 1, J   E  v 0, J  )   v Raman shift

 Qsc   exc  v wavenumber of scattered radiation

Sv 1, J  2   hc(E  v 1, J  2   E  v 0, J  )   v  B4J  6  Raman shift

 Ssc   exc  v  B4J  6 wavenumber of scattered radiation

selection rules: Δν = ±1, ΔJ = 0, ±2

If vibrational tranzition occurs simultaneously

with rotational transitions: O, Q and S branches
will be obtained:
 Problems
1. For the ICl molecule the following spectroscopic constant are known:  0 = 385 cm−1;
xe = 0.05 cm−1; B = 5 cm−1.
Calculate wavelengths of S(0) and O(2) lines in the Raman spectrum (Stokes
domain) excited by the argon laser with wavelength of 500 nm.

2. The wavenumber of the incident radiation is 20000 cm-1. What is the wavenumber of the
scattered Stokes radiation for the J = 0 → 2 transition of 14N2. The equilibrium bond length
is 110 pm.

3. Explain why in the pure rotational Raman spectrum of CO2, the displacement from the
Rayleigh line of the first observed line is 6B and the separation of successive lines is 8B,
whereas for O2 the corresponding figures are 10B and the separation of successive lines is 8B,
where B are the appropriate rotational constants.

4. Lines in the pure rotational Raman spectrum of oxygen are observed at 14.381, 25.876,
37.369, 48.855, 60.337, 71.809, 83.267, 94.712, 106.143, 117.555, 128.949 cm-1.
Assign the lines and determine the ground state rotational constant and the bond length of
oxygen.