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Observation and characterization of the C 7 cluster are reported. Carbon clusters are produced by laser vaporization of a graphite target followed by supersonic expansion of the vaporized material within a gas dynamically focused argon jet. Thirty-six sequential rovibrational lines of the ν 4 antisymmetric stretch fundamental of C 7 are probed by gated detection of diode laser absorption. The observed spectrum is characteristic of a symmetrical linear molecule. Analysis of the spectrum indicates an effective average bond length of 1.2736(4) angstroms and a vibrational frequency of 2138.1951(10) reciprocal centimeters, in excellent agreement with ab initio calculations. This work will facilitate the astrophysical detection of this cluster.

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