Elucidation of the HOD-N2O Structure Via Rotational Spectroscopy and Quadrupolar Coupling

Spectroscopy studies the interaction between light radiation and matter. This thesis uses rotational spectroscopy to probe the structure of DOH-N2O, a weakly bound van der Waals complex. Physical models exploited in this project formalize the quantum rotation of molecules, as well as hydrogen exchange and nuclear quadrupolar coupling. The structure of DOH-N2O provides essential structural measurements for atmospheric chemistry and also fundamental insight into the nature of deuterium substitution in water. Rotational spectroscopy is shown as a powerful technique to investigate the structure of gas phase complexes and the chemistry of weakly bound systems.