Quantum rotation of ortho and para-water encapsulated in a fullerene cage.

ABSTRACT: Inelastic neutron scattering, far-infrared spectroscopy, and cryogenic nuclear magnetic resonance are used to investigate the quantized rotation and ortho-para conversion of single water molecules trapped inside closed fullerene cages. The existence of metastable ortho-water molecules is demonstrated, and the interconversion of ortho-and para-water spin isomers is tracked in real time. Our investigation reveals that the ground state of encapsulated ortho water has a lifted degeneracy, associated with symmetry-breaking of the water environment.

SUBMITTER: Beduz C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3420201 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature