Electronic transitions of the title molecules were measured between 250 and 710 nm using a mass-resolved 1+1 ’ resonant two-photon ionization technique at a resolution of 0.1 nm .
Calculations at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory support the analyses .
Because of their spectral properties , SiC _ { 2 } , linear Si _ { 2 } C _ { 2 } , Si _ { 3 } C , and SiC _ { 6 } H _ { 4 } are interesting target species for astronomical searches in the visible spectral region .
Of special relevance is the Si–C _ { 2 } –Si chain , which features a prominent band at 516.4 nm of a strong transition ( f = 0.25 ) .
This band and one from SiC _ { 6 } H _ { 4 } at 445.3 nm were also investigated at higher resolution ( 0.002 nm ) .