AbstractThe resonance Raman spectra of gaseous iodine bromide IBr have been studied with the excitation of various argon ion laser lines from 5017 to 4579Å. The fine structures of the fundamental and few overtones of IBr are also studied by various power of 4880Å laser line. The resonance Raman scattering is found to be strong as that of Br2and ICI. A new term “apparent spectroscopic temperature” is suggusted for the case of the resonance Raman scattering. The apparent spectroscopic temperatures measured in this cell show that the system is not in thermal equilibrium. Br2is the hottest and I2is the coldest. IBr is in the middle. Unfortunately, no chemical reaction enhanced phenomenon is found although there should be some chemical reactions occurring under the laser light. The initiating reaction is the photodissociation of the main component IBr which also has large absorptivity. Because of the non‐crossing between the B3Π and the1Π states, the primary products of the photodissociation should be I and Br. The chemical reactions of I and Br with IBr follow. The reactions of I and IBr is endothermic but the reaction of Br with IBr is exothermic. Therefore vibrational hot Br2is produced and its apparent spectroscopic temperature should be higher. On the other hand, the apparent spectroscopic temperature of I