Multipole moments and polarizabilities of nonpolar diatomic molecules through quantum solvation in solid parahydrogen: the quadrupole moment of N2.

It is shown in this paper that from the study of the induced infrared absorption spectra of homonuclear diatomic molecules solvated as impurities in a molecular quantum solid, it is possible to extract information about the rovibrational matrix elements of the multipole moments and polarizability of the embedded molecule. Theoretical expressions are derived for the integrated absorption coefficients of various multipole-field-induced double transitions involving guest-host pairs in a solid para-H(2) matrix. The intensities of some of the quadrupole moment induced transitions involving the N(2)-para-H(2) pair have been measured. From a comparison of the experimental and theoretical intensities, rovibrational matrix elements of the quadrupole moment of N(2) are determined in its ground vibrational state.