Sub-ppb Measurement of a Fundamental Band Rovibrational Transition in HD.

We report a direct measurement of the 1-0 R(0) vibrational transition frequency in ground-state hydrogen deuteride (HD) using infrared-ultraviolet double resonance spectroscopy in a molecular beam. Ground-state molecules are vibrationally excited using a frequency comb referenced continuous-wave infrared laser, and the excited molecules arc detected via state-selective ionization with a pulsed ultraviolet laser. We determine an absolute transition frequency of 111 448 815 477(13) kHz. The 0.12 parts-perbillion (ppb) uncertainty is limited primarily by the residual first-order Doppler shift.