Collision induced microwave absorption in N2, CH4, and CF4 in the gaseous and liquid phases

Measurements of collision induced microwave absorption at 2.3 cm−1 have been carried out on gaseous N2 in the temperature range from 124 to 156 K and on liquid N2 in the temperature range from 77 to 125 K. The low density gaseous measurements have been found to agree well with the previous microwave and infrared results and with existing theories. The dependence of the absorption on density has been obtained at 156 K up to a density of 400 amagat and the results compared with the absorption in the liquid at the same density. The absorption is found to be a function of temperature and density but does not depend on the molecules being in a gas or liquid phase. Results for liquid CH4 and CF4 are reported and compared with previous microwave gaseous results. In contrast to the results for N2 the dependence on the square of the density changes by a relatively small amount in going from the low density gas to liquid densities.