Rotational analysis and deperturbation of the A2Π → X2Σ+ and B'2Σ+ → X2Σ+ emission spectra of MgH

Deperturbation analysis of the A(2)Π → X(2)Σ(+) and B(')(2)Σ(+) → X(2)Σ(+) emission spectra of (24)MgH is reported. Spectroscopic data for the v = 0 to 3 levels of the A (2)Π state and the v = 0 to 4 levels of the B'(2)Σ(+) state were fitted together using a single Hamiltonian matrix that includes (2)Π and (2)Σ(+) matrix elements, as well as off-diagonal elements coupling several vibrational levels of the two states. A Dunham-type fit was performed and the resulting Y(l,0) and Y(l,1) coefficients were used to generate Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) potential curves for the A (2)Π and the B'(2)Σ(+) states. Vibrational overlap integrals were computed from the RKR potentials, and the off-diagonal matrix elements coupling the electronic wavefunctions (a(+) and b) were determined. Zero point dissociation energies (D(0)) of the A(2)Π and B'(2)Σ(+) states of (24)MgH were determined to be 12,957.5 ± 0.5 and 10,133.6 ± 0.5 cm(-1), respectively. Using the Y(0,1) coefficients, the equilibrium internuclear distances (r(e)) of the A(2)Π and B'(2)Σ(+) states were determined to be 1.67827(1) ? and 2.59404(4) A?, respectively.     

A vacuum-ultraviolet laser pulsed field ionization-photoelectron study of sulfur monoxide (SO) and its cation (SO+)

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE) spectroscopy has been applied to the study of the sulfur monoxide radical (SO) prepared by using a supersonically cooled radical beam source based on the 193 nm excimer laser photodissociation of SO(2). The vibronic VUV-PFI-PE bands for the photoionization transitions SO(+)(X(2)Π(1∕2); v(+) = 0) ← SO(X(3)Σ(-); v = 0); and SO(+)((2)Π(3∕2); v(+) = 0) ← SO(X(3)Σ(-); v = 0) have been recorded. On the basis of the semiempirical simulation of rotational branch contours observed in these PFI-PE bands, we have obtained highly precise ionization energies (IEs) of 83,034.2 ± 1.7 cm(-1) (10.2949 ± 0.0002 eV) and 83,400.4 ± 1.7 cm(-1) (10.3403 ± 0.0002 eV) for the formation of SO(+)(X(2)Π(1∕2); v(+) = 0) and SO(+)((2)Π(3∕2); v(+) = 0), respectively. The present VUV-PFI-PE measurement has enabled the direct determination of the spin-orbit coupling constant (A(0)) for SO(+)(X(2)Π(1∕2,3∕2)) to be 365.36 ± 0.12 cm(-1). We have also performed high-level ab initio quantum chemical calculations at the coupled-cluster level up to full quadruple excitations and complete basis set (CBS) extrapolation. The zero-point vibrational energy correction, the core-valence electronic correction, the spin-orbit coupling, and the high-level correction are included in the calculation. The IE[SO(+)(X(2)Π(1∕2,3∕2))] and A(0) predictions thus obtained are found to be in remarkable agreement with the experimental determinations.     

Communication: rovibrationally selected study of the N2+(X; v+=1, N+= 0-8) + Ar charge transfer reaction using the vacuum ultraviolet laser pulsed field ionization-photoion method

By employing an electric field pulsing scheme for vacuum ultraviolet laser pulsed field ionization-photoion (PFI-PI) measurements, we have been able to prepare a rovibrationally selected PFI-PI beam of N(2)(+)(v(+) = 1, N(+)) with not only high intensity and high quantum state purity, but also high kinetic energy resolution, allowing absolute total cross sections [σ(v(+) = 1, N(+))] for the N(2)(+)(X; v(+) = 1, N(+)) + Ar, N(+) = 0-8 charge transfer reaction to be measured at center-of-mass collision energies (E(cm)) down to thermal energies. The σ(v(+) = 1, N(+) = 0-8) values determined at E(cm) = 0.04-10.00 eV are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions based on the Landau-Zener-Stu?ckelberg formulism. Taking into account the experimental uncertainties, the σ(v(+) = 1, N(+)), N(+) = 0-8, measured at E(cm) = 1.56 eV are found to be independent of N(+).     

NO+ formation pathways in dissociation of N2O+ ions at the C2Σ+ state revealed from threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence velocity imaging

Using the novel threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) velocity imaging technique, the dissociative photoionization of N(2)O molecule via the C(2)Σ(+) ionic state has been investigated. Four fragment ions, NO(+), N(2)(+), O(+), and N(+), are observed, respectively, and the NO(+) and N(+) ions are always dominant in the whole excitation energy range of the C(2)Σ(+) ionic state. Subsequently, the TPEPICO three-dimensional time-sliced velocity images of NO(+) dissociated from the vibrational state-selected N(2)O(+)(C(2)Σ(+)) ions have been recorded. Thus the kinetic and internal energy distributions of the NO(+) fragments have been obtained directly as the bimodal distributions, suggesting that the NO(+) fragments are formed via both NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) + N((2)P) and NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) + N((2)D) dissociation channels. Almost the same vibrational population reversions are identified for both dissociation pathways. Interestingly, the obtained branching ratios of the two channels exhibit some dependence on the excited vibrational mode for N(2)O(+)(C(2)Σ(+)), in which the excited asymmetrical stretching potentially promotes dissociation possibility along the NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) + N((2)D) pathway. In addition, the measured anisotropic parameters of NO(+) are close to 0.5, indicating that the C(2)Σ(+) state of N(2)O(+) is fully predissociative, indeed, with a tendency of parallel dissociation, and therefore, the corresponding predissociation mechanisms for the N(2)O(+)(C(2)Σ(+)) ions are depicted.     

Optical stark spectroscopy of the D1Π-X1Σ+(0,0) band of scandium monohydride

The laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of the D(1)Π-X(1)Σ(+)(0,0) band of a rotationally cold (<20 K) molecular beam sample of scandium monohydride, ScH, and scandium monodeuteride, ScD, were recorded without and in the presence of a static electric field. The fine and magnetic hyperfine parameters for the X(1)Σ(+)(v=0) and D(1)Π(v=0) states of ScH and ScD were determined from the analysis of the field-free spectra. An unexpected isotopic dependence of the (45)Sc(I=7/2) magnetic hyperfine interaction was observed. The lowest J-levels of the D(1)Π( v=0) state of ScH are not perturbed, but the corresponding levels for ScD are strongly perturbed. The observed electric field induced splitting, broadenings, and shifts were analyzed to produce permanent electric dipole moments, μ(e), of 1.74 ± 0.15 and 2.177 ± 0.006 D for the X(1)Σ(+)(v=0) and D(1)Π(v=0) states, respectively. The trend in μ(e) for the 3d-metal monohydrides is discussed.     

A new analytical potential energy surface for the singlet state of He2H+

The analytic potential energy surface (APES) for the exchange reaction of HeH(+) (X(1)Σ(+)) + He at the lowest singlet state 1(1)A(∕) has been built. The APES is expressed as Aguado-Paniagua function based on the many-body expansion. Using the adaptive non-linear least-squares algorithm, the APES is fitted from 15 682 ab initio energy points calculated with the multireference configuration interaction calculation with a large d-aug-cc-pV5Z basis set. To testify the new APES, we calculate the integral cross sections for He + H(+)He (v = 0, 1, 2, j = 0) → HeH(+) + He by means of quasi-classical trajectory and compare them with the previous result in literature.     

New view of the ICN A continuum using photoelectron spectroscopy of ICN-

Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy of ICN(-) (X??(2)Σ(+)) reveals transitions to the ground electronic state (X??(1)Σ(+)) of ICN as well as the first five excited states ((3)Π(2), (3)Π(1), Π(0(-) ) (3), Π(0(+) ) (3), and (1)Π(1)) that make up the ICN A continuum. By starting from the equilibrium geometry of the anion, photoelectron spectroscopy characterizes the electronic structure of ICN at an elongated I-C bond length of 2.65 A?. Because of this bond elongation, the lowest three excited states of ICN ((3)Π(2), (3)Π(1), and Π(0(-) ) (3)) are resolved for the first time in the photoelectron spectrum. In addition, the spectrum has a structured peak that arises from the frequently studied conical intersection between the Π(0(+) ) (3) and (1)Π(1) states. The assignment of the spectrum is aided by MR-SO-CISD calculations of the potential energy surfaces for the anion and neutral ICN electronic states, along with calculations of the vibrational levels supported by these states. Through thermochemical cycles involving spectrally narrow transitions to the excited states of ICN, we determine the electron affinity, EA(ICN), to be 1.34(5) (+0.04∕-0.02) eV and the anion dissociation energy, D(0)(X??(2)Σ(+) I-CN(-)), to be 0.83 (+0.04/-0.02) eV.     

Stereo correlated dynamics in the energy transfer process of aligned N(2) (A (3)Σ(u) (+)) + oriented NO (X (2)Π, Ω = 1∕2) → NO (A (2)Σ(+)) + N(2) (X (1)Σ(g) (+))

Steric effect for the NO (A (2)Σ(+)) formation in the aligned N(2) (A (3)Σ(u) (+)) + oriented NO (X (2)Π, Ω = 1∕2) reaction has been observed as a function of the mutual orientational configurations between the two molecular reactants in the collision frame. Multidimensional molecular steric opacity function has been determined. A significant NO (X (2)Π) alignment dependence is recognized in contrast with little dependence on NO (X (2)Π) orientation. The NO alignment selectivity turns out to depend on the N(2) (A (3)Σ(u) (+)) alignment: The axial configuration of NO (X (2)Π) is favorable for the axial and sideways configurations of N(2) (A (3)Σ(u) (+)), while the sideways configuration of NO (X (2)Π) is favorable for the oblique configuration of N(2) (A (3)Σ(u) (+)) at an orientation angle of θ(v(R) ) ～ 45°. with respect to the relative velocity (v(R)).     

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.     

Insights on the CN B 2Σ+ + Ar potential from ultraviolet fluorescence excitation and infrared depletion studies of the CN-Ar complex

UV laser-induced fluorescence and IR-UV fluorescence depletion studies have been used to characterize the intermolecular levels of the CN-Ar complex in the excited state correlating with CN B (2)Σ(+) + Ar. Additional CN-Ar features are identified to lower wavenumber than reported previously. Fluorescence depletion spectra are recorded to confirm that these CN-Ar features and other higher energy features in the B-X spectrum originate from a common ground state level. The UV depletion is induced by IR excitation of CN-Ar from the ground state zero-point level to a hindered internal rotor state (n(K) = 1(1)) in the CN overtone region. The lowest energy feature in the B-X spectrum at 25,714.1 cm(-1) is assigned as a transition to the zero-point level of the B state and also yields its binding energy, D(0) = 186(2) cm(-1), which is in excellent accord with theoretical predictions. The next feature approximately 40 cm(-1) higher is attributed to overlapping transitions to intermolecular levels with bend (v(b)(K)=1(1)) or stretch (v(s) = 1) excitation. Yet higher features (previously reported) are also assigned, based on their transition type and wavenumber, which are consistent with the intermolecular energy level pattern computed theoretically. Finally, the intensity profile of the lowest energy features in the B-X spectrum reflects the predicted change in the CN (B (2)Σ(+), X (2)Σ(+)) + Ar potentials upon electronic excitation from a weakly anisotropic potential about the linear N≡C-Ar configuration in the ground state to a more strongly bound linear C≡N-Ar structure in the excited B electronic state.     

Nonadiabatic quantum reactive scattering of the OH(A 2Σ+) + D2

The seams of conical intersection exist between the ground (1 (2)A(')) and the first-excited (2 (2)A(')) electronic potential energy surfaces (PESs) of OH(A (2)Σ(+),X (2)Π) + H(2) system. This intersection induces the nonadiabatic quenching of OH(A (2)Σ(+)) by D(2). We present nonadiabatic quantum dynamics study for OH(A (2)Σ(+)) + D(2) on new five-dimensional coplanar PESs. The ab initio calculations of PESs are based on multireference configuration interaction (MRCI)/aug-cc-pVQZ level. A back-propagation neural network is utilized to fit the PESs and nonadiabatic coupling. High degrees of rotational excitation of quenched OH(X (2)Π) products are found in nonreactive quenching channel, and the quenched D(2) products are vibrationally excited up to quantum number v(2) (')=8. The theoretical results of nonadiabatic time-dependent wave-packet calculation are in good agreement with the existing experimental data.     

The ν2 bending vibrational structure of the X̃2Σ+ state of MgNC

We have generated MgNC in supersonic free jet expansions and observed the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) of the A?(2)Π-X?(2)Σ(+) transition. We measured the LIF dispersed spectra from the single vibronic levels of the A?(2)Π electronic state of MgNC, following excitation of each ν(2) bending vibronic band observed, i.e., the κ series of the (0,v(2)('),0)-(0,0,0), v(2)(') = 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 vibronic bands. In the vibrational structure in the dispersed fluorescence spectra measured, the long progression of the ν(2) bending mode in the X?(2)Σ(+) state is identified, e.g., up to v(2)(')=14 in the (0,6,0)-(0,v(2)('),0) spectrum. This enables us to derive the potential curve of the ν(2) bending mode in the X?(2)Σ(+) state. We used two kinds of models to obtain the potential curve; (I) the customary formula expressed in the polynomial series of the (v(2)(')+(d(2)/2)) term and (II) the internal rotation model. The potential curve derived from model (I) indicates the convergence of the bending vibrational levels at about 800 cm(-1) from the vibrationless level of MgNC, which may correspond to the barrier height of the isomerization reaction, MgNC ? MgCN, in the X?(2)Σ(+) state. Model (II) gives a simple picture for the isomerization reaction pathway with a barrier height of about 630 cm(-1) from the vibrationless level of the more stable species, MgNC. This shows that the v(2)(')=8 bending vibrational level of MgNC is already contaminated by the v(2)(')=2 bending vibrational level of the isomer, MgCN, and implies that the isomerization reaction begins at the v(2) (')=8 level. The bending potential surface and the isomerization reaction pathway, MgNC ? MgCN, in the X?(2)Σ(+) state are discussed by comparing the potential derived in this study with the surface obtained by quantum chemical calculation.     

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.     

Collisional quenching of OD A 2Σ+ by H2: experimental and theoretical studies of the state-resolved OD X 2Π product distribution and branching fraction

We report joint experimental and theoretical studies of outcomes resulting from the nonreactive quenching of electronically excited OD?A (2)Σ(+) by H(2). The experiments utilize a pump-probe technique to detect the OD?X (2)Π product state distribution under single collision conditions. The OD?X (2)Π products are observed primarily in their lowest vibrational state (v(") = 0) with substantially less population in v(") = 1. The OD?X (2)Π products are generated with a high degree of rotational excitation, peaking at N(") = 21 with an average rotational energy of 4600 cm(-1), and a strong propensity for populating the Π(A(')) Λ-doublet component indicative of alignment of the half-filled pπ orbital in the plane of OD rotation. Branching fraction measurements show that the nonreactive channel accounts for less than 20% of quenching outcomes. Complementary classical trajectory calculations of the postquenching dynamics are initiated from representative points along seams of conical intersections between the ground and excited-state potentials of OD(A (2)Σ(+),X (2)Π) + H(2). Diabatic modeling of the initial momenta in the dynamical calculations captures the key experimental trends: OD?X (2)Π products released primarily in their ground vibrational state with extensive rotational excitation and a branching ratio that strongly favors reactive quenching. The OD?A (2)Σ(+) + H(2) results are also compared with previous studies on the quenching of OH?A (2)Σ(+) + H(2); the two experimental studies show remarkably similar rotational energy distributions for the OH and OD?X (2)Π radical products.     

Dark state vibronic coupling in the Ã(2Π) ← ͠X(2Σ+) band of ethynyl radical via high resolution infrared absorption spectroscopy

The high resolution infrared spectrum for the ? ((2)Π) ← ?X ((2)Σ(+)) origin band of jet-cooled ethynyl radical (C(2)H) in the gas phase is reported, which exhibits a strong, parity-specific local perturbation in the upper (2)Π(1/2) state. Based on revised parity assignments of the levels, the perturbing state is unambiguously determined to be (2)Σ(+) symmetry, and thus coupled to the ? ((2)Π) state by ΔK = ±1 Coriolis interactions. By incorporating Σ-Π Coriolis coupling into the unperturbed Hamiltonian (containing only rotational, spin-rotational, spin-orbit, and lambda-doubling contributions), we are now able to fit the observed (2)Π-(2)Σ(+) origin band to a sub Doppler experimental uncertainty of 15 MHz (0.0005 cm(-1)). In addition, the observation of pairs of transitions to mixed states permits determination of the band origin (ν(pert)) and rotational constant (B(pert)) for the "dark"(2)Σ(+) state, which prove to be in remarkably quantitative agreement with full vibronic predictions of Tarroni and Carter as well as UV dispersed fluorescence studies of Hsu et al. This represents an important benchmark in mapping out non-Born-Oppenheimer vibronic interactions and energy level structure in a polyatomic combustion radical system, an understanding of which will be key to modeling chemical reactions in both terrestrial and astronomical environments.     

Fourier transform spectroscopy and direct potential fit of a shelflike state: application to E(4)1Σ(+) KCs

The paper presents high-resolution experimental study and a direct potential construction of a shelflike state E(4)(1)Σ(+) of the KCs molecule converging to K(4(2)S) + Cs(5(2)D) atomic limit; such data are of interest for selecting optical paths for producing and monitoring cold polar diatomics. The collisionally enhanced laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra corresponding to both spin-allowed E(4)(1)Σ(+) → X(1)(1)Σ(+) and spin-forbidden E(4)(1)Σ(+) → a(1)(3)Σ(+) transitions of KCs were recorded in visible region by Fourier transform spectrometer with resolution of 0.03 cm(-1). Overall about 1650 rovibronic term values of the E(4)(1)Σ(+) state of (39)K(133)Cs and (41)K(133)Cs isotopologues nonuniformly covering the energy range [16987, 18445] cm(-1) above the minimum of the ground X-state were determined with the uncertainty of 0.01 cm(-1). Experimental data field is limited by vibrational levels v' ∈ [2, 74] with rotational quantum numbers J' ∈ [1, 188]. The closed analytical form for potential energy curve (PEC) based on Chebyshev polynomial expansion (CPE) was implemented to a direct potential fit (DPF) of the experimental term values of the most abundant (39)K(133)Cs isotopologue. Besides analyticity, regularity, correct long-range behavior, and nice convergence properties, the CPE form demonstrated optimal balance on flexibility and constraint for the DPF of a shelflike state aggravated by a limited data set. The mass-invariant properties of the CPE PEC were tested by the prediction of rovibronic term values of the (41)K(133)Cs isotopomer which coincided with their experimental counterparts with standard deviation of 0.0048 cm(-1). The CPE modeling is compared with the highly flexible pointwise inverted perturbation approach model, as well as with conventional Dunham analysis of restricted data set v' ≤ 50. Reliability of the empirical PEC is additionally confirmed by good agreement between the calculated and experimental relative intensity distributions in the long E(v') → X(v") LIF progressions.     

Characterization of C4H in the A2Π and X2Σ+ states by double resonance four-wave mixing

The B(2)Π-X(2)Σ(+) electronic spectrum of C(4)H has been studied by degenerate and double resonance four-wave mixing. The technique identifies vibrational levels in the X(2)Σ(+) ground state. Its sensitivity and unique characteristics permit detection of new levels. The A(2)Π state lying 222 cm(-1) above the X(2)Σ ground state is also observed, confirming the analysis from anion photoelectron spectroscopy but with improved accuracy. Vibrational level determination in the A(2)Π electronic manifold up to 700 cm(-1) above v = 0 is made. A Renner-Teller analysis is carried out for the two lowest bending modes v(6) and v(7) in the A(2)Π state by diagonalization of the effective Hamiltonian matrix. The Renner-Teller parameters ∈(6), ∈(7), and ∈(67), the vibrations ω(6) and ω(7) and the spin-orbit coupling constant A(so) are determined.     

Molecular spectroscopy for ground-state transfer of ultracold RbCs molecules

We perform one- and two-photon high resolution spectroscopy on ultracold samples of RbCs Feshbach molecules with the aim to identify a suitable route for efficient ground-state transfer in the quantum-gas regime to produce quantum gases of dipolar RbCs ground-state molecules. One-photon loss spectroscopy allows us to probe deeply bound rovibrational levels of the mixed excited (A(1)Σ(+)-b(3)Π)0(+) molecular states. Two-photon dark state spectroscopy connects the initial Feshbach state to the rovibronic ground state. We determine the binding energy of the lowest rovibrational level |v' = 0, J' = 0> of the X(1)Σ(+) ground state to be D = 3811.5755(16) cm(-1), a 300-fold improvement in accuracy with respect to previous data. We are now in the position to perform stimulated two-photon Raman transfer to the rovibronic ground state.     

Dissociation of vibrational state-selected O2(+) Ions in the B(2)Σ(g)¯ state using threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence velocity imaging

Using the recently developed threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) velocity imaging mass spectrometer (Tang et al. Rev. Sci. Instrum.2009, 80, 113101), dissociation of vibrational state-selected O(2)(+)(B(2)Σ(g)(ˉ), v(+) = 0-6) ions was investigated. Both the speed and angular distributions of the O(+) fragments dissociated from individually vibronic levels of the B(2)Σ(g)(ˉ) state were obtained directly from the three-dimensional time-sliced TPEPICO velocity images. Two dissociation channels, O(+)((4)S) + O((3)P) and O(+)((4)S) + O((1)D), were respectively observed, and their branching ratios were found to be heavily dependent on the vibrational states. A new intersection mechanism was suggested for the predissociation of O(2)(+)(B(2)Σ(g)(ˉ)) ions, especially for dissociation at the energy of the v(+) = 4 level. In addition, the anisotropic parameters for O(+) fragments from different dissociative pathways were determined to be close to zero, indicating that the v(+) = 0-6 levels of B(2)Σ(g)(ˉ) predissociate on a time scale that is much slower than that of molecular rotation.     

Production of a beam of highly vibrationally excited CO using perturbations

An intense molecular beam of CO (X(1)Σ(+)) in high vibrational states (v = 17, 18) was produced by a new approach that we call PUMP - PUMP - PERTURB and DUMP. The basic idea is to access high vibrational states of CO e(3)Σ(-) via a two-photon doubly resonant transition that is perturbed by the A(1)Π state. DUMP -ing from this mixed (predominantly triplet) state allows access to high vibrational levels of CO (X(1)Σ(+)). The success of the approach, which avoids the use of vacuum UV radiation in any of the excitation steps, is proven by laser induced fluorescence and resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization spectroscopy.