Infrared absorptions of the H(2)O ... H(2) complex trapped in solid neon.

When a sample of neon to which have been added less than 1% each of H(2) and H(2)O is deposited at 4.3 K, the infrared spectrum of the resulting solid includes an absorption by the vibrational fundamental of H(2), which is normally infrared inactive. New absorptions are also associated with the vibrational fundamentals of the H(2)O in the sample. Similar results are obtained for deuterium-enriched samples. The new peaks are assigned to the van der Waals complex of H(2)O with H(2). As has been found in earlier theoretical, gas-phase, and solid-state studies of this and closely related systems, the infrared absorptions arise principally from complexes involving ortho-H(2), for which J=1.