Quantum Chemistry 6.9 - Centrifugal Distortion

Short lecture on centrifugal distortion in the rigid rotor. The rigid rotor quantum mechanical model systems approximates the rotations of a diatomic molecule as two masses at a fixed bond length. As the molecule rotates faster at higher energy rotational states, the bond length is stretched slightly. This slightly increases the moment of inertia, decreasing the rotational constant, and decreasing spacing between microwave spectral lines. The extent of centrifugal distortion is encapsulated in the centrifugal distortion constant D, which is typically very small, with a quartic effect on the energy. Notes Slide: http://i.imgur.com/C1acwn2.png -- About TMP Chem -- All TMP Chem content is free for everyone, everywhere, and created independently by Trent Parker. Email: tmpchemistry@gmail.com -- Video Links -- Chapter Playlist:    • Rigid Rotor   Course Playlist:    • Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy   Course Review:    • Quantum Chemistry Chapter Reviews   Other Courses:    • PChem Course Intros   Channel Info:    • About TMP Chem   -- Social Links -- Facebook:   / tmpchem   Twitter:   / tmpchem   LinkedIn:   / tmpchem   Imgur: https://tmpchem.imgur.com GitHub: https://www.github.com/tmpchem -- Equipment -- Microphone: Blue Yeti USB Microphone Drawing Tablet: Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch Small Drawing Program: Autodesk Sketchbook Express Screen Capture: Corel Visual Studio Pro X8