Laser excitation spectrum of the 0g+(X 1Σg+)−0u+(3Πu) transition in Cd2

Spectroscopic constants and bond strengths of ground-state 0_g⁺(¹Σ_g⁺) and excited state 0_u⁺(³Π_u) Cd₂ van der Waals molecules have been determined by laser excitation of Cd₂ spectra in a supersonic expansion of cadmium vapor.     

Rapid collisional quenching of the N = 1, υ = 2 level of the H2(c3Πu) metastable state by H2

The rate coefficient for collisional quenching of the N = 1, υ = 2 level of the H₂(c³Π_u) metastable state by H₂ is measured to be (2.0 ± 0.2)×10⁻¹⁵ m³/s at 300 K. The metastables are produced by an electric discharge, radiatively quenched by a pulsed laser, and the recovery of metastable population monitored by cw dye laser absorption.     

Steric effect in the energy transfer reaction of oriented CO (a 3Π, v'=0, Ω=1 and 2) + NO (X 2Π) → NO (A 2Σ+, B 2Π) + CO (X 1Σ+)

The oriented CO (a (3)Π, v' = 0, Ω = 1 and 2) beam has been prepared by using an electric hexapole and applied to the energy transfer reaction of CO (a (3)Π, v' = 0, Ω = 1 and 2) + NO (X (2)Π) → NO (A (2)Σ(+), B (2)Π) + CO (X (1)Σ(+)). The emission spectra of NO (A (2)Σ(+), B(2)Π) have been measured at three orientation configurations (C-end, O-end, random). The shape of the emission spectra (and/or the internal excitation of products) turns out to be insensitive to the molecular orientation. The vibrational distributions of NO (A (2)Σ(+), v' = 0-2) and NO (B (2)Π, v' = 0-2) are determined to be N(v'=0):N(v'=1):N(v'=2) = 1:0.40 ± 0.05:0.10 ± 0.05 and N(v'=0):N(v'=1):N(v'= 2) = 1:0.6 ± 0.1:0.7 ± 0.1, respectively, and the branching ratio γ/β [=NO (A (2)Σ(+))/NO (B (2)Π)] is estimated to be γ/β ～ 0.3 ± 0.1 by means of spectral simulation. These vibrational distributions of NO (A, B) can be essentially attributed to the product-pair correlations between CO (X, v″) and NO (A (2)Σ(+), v' = 0-2), NO (B (2)Π, v' = 0-2) due to energetic restriction under the vibrational distribution of CO (X, v″) produced from the vertical transition of CO (a (3)Π, v' = 0) → CO (X, v″) in the course of energy transfer. The steric opacity function has been determined at two wavelength regions: 220 < λ < 290 nm [NO (A → X) is dominant]; 320 < λ < 400 nm [NO (B → X) is dominant]. For both channels NO (A (2)Σ(+), B(2)Π), a significant CO (a (3)Π) alignment effect is recognized; the largest reactivity at the sideways direction with the small reactivity at the molecular axis direction is observed. These CO (a (3)Π) alignment effects can be essentially attributed to the steric asymmetry on two sets of molecular orbital overlap, [CO (2π) + NO (6σ (2π))] and [CO (5σ) + NO (1π (2π))]. All experimental observations support the electron exchange mechanism that is operative through the formation of a weakly bound complex OCNO.     

The predissociation of Li2 b3Πu by a3Σ+u

⁶Li₂ 1³Δ_g(F₁) → b³Π_u(F₁v = 0–11) rotationally resolved fluorescence spectra are recorded following perturbation-facilitated optical—optical double resonance excitation of 1³Δ_g via spin—orbit mixed A¹Σ⁺_u ∼ b³Π_u(F₁e) intermediate levels. The f-symmetry Λ-components of b³Π_u(F₁) are broadened above the 0.05 cm⁻¹ detection threshold owing to predissociation by the vibrational continuum of the a³Σ⁺_u state. The observed v = 0–11, N = 31f level widths were used to determine the potential energy curve for the Li₂ a³Σ⁺_u state in the region 2.35 < R < 2.60 Å and 11200 < E < 14900 cm⁻¹ (relative to E = 0 at the minimum of X¹Σ⁺_g). The a³Σ⁺_u ∼ b³Π_u curve crossing is at R = 2.57 Å and E = 11246 cm⁻¹ and the electronic part of the − BN·LL-uncoupling matrix element is 〈b Π¦L⁺ ¦aΣ〉 = 1.216H at an R-centroid Rv_bϵ_a = 2.61Å.     

Rotationally resolved (3 + 1) rempi of H 2 via the B1Σ+u state

In the paper, we compare the results of our ab initio calculations for the ro-vibrational branching ratios resulting from a (3+1) REMPI of H₂ via the B¹Σ⁺_u state with the experimental data of Pratt, Poliakoff, Dehmer and Dehmer. These results indicate that non-Franck-Condon effects are less important here than in the (3+1) REMPI of H₂ via the C¹Π_u state. We observe that the ΔJ = ±3 peaks in the photoelectron spectrum are of negligible strength and that the ratio of ΔJ = +1 to ΔJ = −1 peak is independent of the ionic vibrational state. A detailed analysis indicates that these features arise as a result of a dynamic interference between the do and dμ ionization channels and do not imply either the smallness of the d-wave or the smallness of the j_t = 3 angular momentum coupling terms.     

Non-orthonormal basis calculations of the dipole transition moment for the phillips system (A 1Πu → X 1Σ+g) in C2. Theoretical lifetime of the A 1Πu state

Non-orthonormal basis calculations have been carried out on the A ¹Π_u → X ¹Σ⁺_g transition moment of C₂ as a function of CC internuclear distance. Two types of AO basis set and different sizes of CI vectors were employed in order to examine the convergence of the theoretical results. Published ab initio potential energy curves and the transition moments of the present work were combined to calculate radiative lifetimes of vibrational levels of the A ¹Π_u state. The resulting lifetimes are in agreement with other theoretical values, obtained with orthonormal basis calculations, which however, are significantly lower than those of the most recent experiments.     

Alignment effect of N2(A3Σu+) in the energy transfer reaction of aligned N2(A3Σu+) + NO(X2Π) → NO(A2Σ+) + N2(X1Σg+)

Steric effect in the energy transfer reaction of N(2)(A(3)Σ(u)(+)) + NO(X(2)Π) → NO(A(2)Σ(+)) + N(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)) has been studied under crossed beam conditions at a collision energy of ~0.07 eV by using an aligned N(2)(A(3)Σ(u)(+)) beam prepared by a magnetic hexapole. The emission intensity of NO(A(2)Σ(+)) has been measured as a function of the magnetic orientation field direction (i.e., alignment of N(2)(A(3)Σ(u)(+))) in the collision frame. A significant alignment effect on the energy transfer probability is observed. The shape of the steric opacity function turns out to be most reactive at the oblique configuration of N(2)(A(3)Σ(u)(+)) with an orientation angle of γ(v(R)) ~ 45° with respect to the relative velocity vector (v(R)), which has a good correlation with the spatial distribution of the 2pπ(g)* molecular orbital of N(2)(A(3)Σ(u)(+)). We propose the electron exchange mechanism in which the energy transfer probability is dominantly controlled by the orbital overlap between N(2)(2pπ(g)*) and NO(6σ).     

Intensities of lines in the band a 1Δg (v′= 0) − X3Σ−g (v″ = 0) of 16O2 in absorption

Line-strengths in the band a¹Δ_g (v′= 0) − X³Σ⁻_g (v″ = 0) of gaseous ¹⁶O₂ in absorption near 7.9 × 10⁵ m⁻¹ have been remeasured in the laboratory under conditions of pressure less than 101,000 Pa and temperature near 300 K. The band-strength is estimated to be (2.1 ± 0.3) × 10⁻²⁶ m, and the coefficient for self-broadening of individual lines near the band centre is (10 ± 1) m⁻¹ bar⁻¹. No evidence of an underlying continuum was found.     

Rovibrational dynamics of the strontium molecule in the A(1)Σ(u)+, c(3)Π(u), and a(3)Σ(u)+ manifold from state-of-the-art ab initio calculations

State-of-the-art ab initio techniques have been applied to compute the potential energy curves for the electronic states in the A(1)Σ(u)(+), c(3)Π(u), and a(3)Σ(u)(+) manifold of the strontium dimer, the spin-orbit and nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements between the states in the manifold, and the electric transition dipole moment from the ground X(1)Σ(g)(+) to the nonrelativistic and relativistic states in the A+c+a manifold. The potential energy curves and transition moments were obtained with the linear response (equation of motion) coupled cluster method limited to single, double, and linear triple excitations for the potentials and limited to single and double excitations for the transition moments. The spin-orbit and nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements were computed with the multireference configuration interaction method limited to single and double excitations. Our results for the nonrelativistic and relativistic (spin-orbit coupled) potentials deviate substantially from recent ab initio calculations. The potential energy curve for the spectroscopically active (1)0(u)(+) state is in quantitative agreement with the empirical potential fitted to high-resolution Fourier transform spectra [A. Stein, H. Kno?ckel, and E. Tiemann, Eur. Phys. J. D 64, 227 (2011)]. The computed ab initio points were fitted to physically sound analytical expressions, and used in converged coupled channel calculations of the rovibrational energy levels in the A+c+a manifold and line strengths for the A(1)Σ(u)(+)←X(1)Σ(g (+) transitions. Positions and lifetimes of quasi-bound Feshbach resonances lying above the (1)S(0) + (3)P(1) dissociation limit were also obtained. Our results reproduce (semi)quantitatively the experimental data observed thus far. Predictions for on-going and future experiments are also reported.     

Doublet rotational energy transfer of the SH (X ²Π, v'=0) state by collisions with Ar

The rotational energy transfer (RET) by Ar collisions within the SH X?(2)Π (v' = 0, J' = 0.5-10.5) state is characterized. The integral cross sections as a function of collision energy for each rotational transition are calculated using a quantum scattering method in which the constructed potential energy functions are based on a ground state potential energy surface (PES) reported previously. On the other hand, a laser-induced excitation fluorescence technique is employed to monitor the relaxation of the rotational population as a function of photolysis-probe delay time following the photodissociation of H(2)S at 248 nm. The rotational population evolution is comparable to its theoretical counterpart based on calculated Λ-resolved RET rate constants. The propensity in Λ-resolved RET transitions is found to approximately resemble the case of OH(X?(2)Π, v' = 0) + Ar. The Λ-averaged RET collisions are also analyzed and result in several propensity rules in the transitions. Most propensity rules are similar to those observed in the collisions of SH(A?(2)Σ(+)) by Ar. However, the behavior of the conserving ratio, defined as rate constants for spin-orbit conserving transition divided by those for spin-orbit changing transition, shows distinct difference from those described by Hund's case (b).     

The (1) 3Σg+ electronic state of Cs2

Laser-induced fluorescence of Cs₂ molecules, recorded by high-resolution Fourier spectroscopy, has been used for the first spectroscopic identification of the lowest gerade triplet (1) ³Σ_g⁺ electronic state. This state can be described by the molecular parameters: T_e = 11602.10 cm⁻¹, B_c = 8.258×10⁻³ cm⁻¹, D_c = 2.56×10⁻⁹ cm⁻¹ and R_c = 5.5425 Å. Determination of the absolute vibrational numbering will require further experiments.     

The 1(5)Π(g) state of C2

We report ab initio spectroscopic constants for the recently identified 1(5)Π(g) state of C(2) [P. Bornhauser, Y. Sych, G. Knopp, T. Gerber, and P. P. Radi, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 044302 (2011)]. The calculations are performed at the multi-reference configuration interaction level of theory with Davidson's correction using aug-cc-pV6Z basis sets and include core-valence correlation and relativistic corrections obtained with quadruple-zeta bases. Such treatment accurately reproduces the experimentally observed constants of the a(3)Π(u) and other states. Thus, we expect our calculated ω(e) value for the 1(5)Π(g) state to be within a few cm(-1), and rotational constants to be within 0.1% of experiment. Agreement with available spectroscopic data is excellent, with the calculations strongly suggesting that the 1(5)Π(g) vibrational level observed by Bornhauser et al. is v = 0.     

Mode specific photodissociation of CS2(+) via the A2Π(u) state: a time-sliced velocity map imaging study

The vibrationally mediated photodissociation of CS(2)(+) cations via the A(2)Π(u)(ν(1),ν(2),0) state has been studied by means of the velocity map ion imaging technique. The measurements were made with a double resonance strategy. The CS(2)(+) cations were prepared by a (3 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization method. The photo-fragment excitation spectrum of S(+) was recorded by scanning the photolysis laser via the A(2)Π(u)(ν(1),ν(2),0) state. By fixing the photolysis laser wavelength at the specific vibrational state, the (1 + 1) photodissociation images of S(+) photofragments from numerous vibrationally mediated states have been accumulated. The translational energy release spectra derived from the resulting images imply that the co-fragments, CS radicals, are both vibrationally and rotationally excited. The one-photon photodissociation without the vibrational state selection has also been performed. Comparing the vibrationally mediated photodissociation with one-photon photodissociation observations, clear evidence of vibrational state control of the photodissociation process is observed.     

Experimental studies of the NaCs 5(3)Π0 and 1(a)3Σ+ states

We report high resolution measurements of 372 NaCs 5(3)Π(0)(v, J) ro-vibrational level energies in the range 0 ≤ v ≤ 22. The data have been used to construct NaCs 5(3)Π(0) potential energy curves using the Rydberg-Klein-Rees and inverted perturbation approximation methods. Bound-free 5(3)Π(0)(v, J) → 1(a)(3)Σ(+) emission has also been measured, and is used to determine the repulsive wall of the 1(a)(3)Σ(+) state and the 5(3)Π(0) → 1(a)(3)Σ(+) relative transition dipole moment function. Hyperfine structure in the 5(3)Π(0) state has not been observed in this experiment. This null result is explained using a simple vector coupling model.     

Fourier spectrometry investigation of the 1 3Σg+ →a 3Σu+ transition of the 7Li2 molecule

The 1 ³Σ_g⁺ → a ³Σ_u⁺ transition in the ⁷Li₂ molecule has been observed in the 8200–10 000 cm⁻¹ region with a high resolution Fourier spectrometer. Rotational analysis of 1 ⩽ υ′ ⩽ 7 of 1 ³Σ_g⁺ and 0 ⩽ υ″ ⩽ 7 of a ³Σ_u⁺ has been carried out. We found D_e(a ³Σ_u⁺) = 332.5 ± 1.0 cm⁻¹ that gives T_e(a ³Σ_u⁺) = 8184.3 ± 1.5 cm⁻¹ and D_e(1 ³Σ_g⁺) = 7090.4 ± 1.5 cm⁻¹ with T_e = 16330 ± 2 cm⁻¹.     

Spectroscopic analysis of the coupled 1(1)Π, 2(3)Σ+ (Ω = 0-, 1), and b(3)Π (Ω = 0±, 1, 2) states of the KRb molecule using both ultracold molecules and molecular beam experiments

We report the spectroscopic characterization of excited electronic states of KRb by combining spectra from molecular beam (MB) experiments with those from ultracold molecules (UM) formed by photoassociation (PA) of ultracold atoms. Spectra involving the 1(1)Π, 2(3)Σ(+), and b(3)Π states in a strongly perturbed region have been identified. This approach provides a powerful method to identify the vibrational levels of the excited electronic states perturbed globally by neighboring electronic states. This is because the two sets of spectra from the UM and the MB experiments probe the same energy region from very different initial electronic states. The UM experiments utilize high v' levels of the a(3)Σ(+) state with large internuclear separations, while the MB experiments utilize low v' levels of the ground X(1)Σ(+) state with near-equilibrium internuclear separations. Only the Ω = 1 levels of the 2(3)Σ(+) and b(3)Π states are observed in the MB spectra, while the Ω = 0(-), 1 levels of the 2(3)Σ(+) state and the Ω = 0(±), 1, 2 levels of the b(3)Π state are observed in the UM spectra.     

Collision induced absorption in the a1Δ(v = 2) ← X3Σg(-)(v = 0) band of molecular oxygen

Using cavity ring-down spectroscopy we measured the collision induced absorption spectrum associated with the a(1)Δ(v = 2) ←X(3)Σ(g)(-)(v = 0) band of oxygen near 922 nm both in pure oxygen and in mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen. For pure oxygen, we report for this band an integrated absorption of (1.56 - 0.04/+0.40) × 10(-5) cm(-2) amg(-2). We find that collisions between oxygen and nitrogen do not result in any measurable CIA signal. At 1 bar of oxygen, this collision induced transition is much stronger than the allowed magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole transitions.     

Transition dipole moments between the low-lying Ω(g,u)(+∕-) states of the Rb2 and Cs2 molecules

For the Rb(2) and Cs(2) molecules, the adiabatic potential-energy curves and the transition dipole moments of the 43 Ω((+∕-)) (g,u) low-lying states dissociating adiabatically to the limits up to ns+(n-1)d (n = 5,6 for Rb(2) and Cs(2), respectively), have been computed as a function of the internuclear distance R for a large and dense grid. Each molecule was treated as a two-electron system. We used an ab initio approach involving a relativistic non-empirical pseudo-potential for Rb and Cs cores, core-valence polarization potentials, and full valence configuration interaction calculations for the two valence electrons. Spin-orbit effects were taken into account through semi-empirical spin-orbit pseudopotentials. Equilibrium distances, transition energies, rotational constants, and harmonic frequencies as well as depths of wells and heights of barriers are reported for all the molecular states investigated in Hund's cases (a) and (c). Extensive tables of energy values and transition dipole moments are given in an auxiliary (EPAPS) files as a database for future studies on Rb(2) and Cs(2).     

A study of the perturbations between the A1Σ+u and b3Πu states of Na2

The interaction between the A¹Σ⁺_u and b³Π_Ωu states of Na₂ is explored by resonantly exciting A states via A-X transitions and, after an adjustable delay time, photoionizing them. For long delays signals arise only from states with significant fractions of both A and b state character. Thus the regions where the interaction is important stand out clearly in the spectrum. Using this technique we have investigated perturbations of the A v' = 3, 7 and 8 states by the b v' = 10, 13 and 14 states.     

Nodal surfaces of the wave functions of the hydrogen molecule in the triplet state 3Σu +

For molecular hydrogen in the triplet state ³Σ_u ⁺, the nodal surfaces of the wave function corresponding to the minimum basis set of Slater orbitals in the Hartree—Fock approximation and those of the wave function used in calculations by the diffusion quantum Monte Carlo method were plotted and analyzed. Taking account of the condition for antisymmetrical wave function of the triplet state ³ S of He atom, the Hartree-Fock approximation in the minimum basis set of one-electron orbitals is inappropriate for a priori determination of the nodal surfaces of many-electron wave functions (MWF). An MWF quantum chemical method developed by the authors is outlined. The alternative nodal surfaces for H₂ (³Σ_u ⁺) a priori specified in this method are presented.