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.     

Laser-induced fluorescence in N2 and N+2 by multiple-photon excitation at 266 nm

The fluorescence transitions corresponding to the second positive system of N₂ (C³Π_u → B³Π_g) for Δv = 0, 1 and the first negative system of N⁺₂(B²Σ⁺_u → X²Σ⁺_g) for Δv = 0, 1, 2 have been observed following laser-induced mul excitation of N₂.     

Ã2Σ+g → X̃2Πu emission band system of dicyanoacetylene radical cation in the gaseous phase

The emission spectrum of the dicyanoacetylene radical cation has been observed in the 580–720 nm wavelength region as a result of low energy electron impact excitation in a crossed-beam arrangement. The band system is attributed to the òΣ⁺_g → X?²Π_u electronic transition by comparison with the photoelectron spectroscopic and calculated data on the states of dicyanoacetylene cation. The frequencies of the three Σ⁺_g vibrational fundamentals in the ground cation state have been deduced from the emission spectrum. The lifetime of the lowest vibrational level of the òΣ⁺_g state of dicyanoacetylene cation was determined to be 13 ± 2 ns. Emission could not be detected from the corresponding states, òΣ⁺, of fluorocyanoacetylene and cyanoacetylene cations, and these results are discussed.     

Lifetimes of C-2 in rotational levels of the B̃2Σ+u state in the gas phase

Lifetimes of C^-₂ in rotational levels of the B?²Σ⁺_u:ν′ = 0, ν′ = 1 states have been measured. C^-₂ was produced from bromoacetylene and rare-gas metastables and the B?²Σ⁺_u—X?²Σ⁺_g transition was laser excited. The lifetimes are constant within a vibrational level, 77 = 8 ns for ν′= 0 and 73 = 7 ns for ν′ = 1. The oscillator strength f_νo = 0.044 ± 0.004.     

The 6Liz A1Σu+ ∼ b3Πu spin—orbit perturbations: Sub-Doppler spectra and steady state kinetic lineshape model

The ⁶Li₂ A¹Σ_u⁺ υ_A = 2, J = 33 and υ_A = 9, J = 20 levels are shown to be spin—orbit perturbed by the b³Π_u υ_b = 9, F₁e N = 32 and υ_b = 15, F₁e N = 19 levels from which an electronic matrix element of <b³Π_oc|H^SO|A¹Σ⁺ > = 0.114±0.006 cm^?1 is determined. Previous estimates of this quantity are shown to be incorrect. Although the main and extra levels are separated by less than the 900 K Doppler width of A¹Σ_u⁺ ? X¹Σ_g⁺ rotational lines, sub-Doppler intermodulated fluorescence and perturbation-facilitated optical—optical double resonance spectra allow direct observation of the separation of main and extra levels. The mixing coefficients and other perturbation parameters are inferred from a steady state kinetic model of the composite main plus extra lineshape.     

Fluorescence and recombination-emission spectra from S2 formed by ultraviolet laser photolysis of CS2 in an argon matrix at 15 k

Two series of emission bands were observed for the CS₂/Ar(1 : 100–500) system at 15 K with excitation at 257.3 nm. They are assigned to B³Σ^?_u → χ³Σ^?_g and B″³Π_u → X³Σ^?_g of S₂, which was formed by photodissociation of CS₂, CS₂ + hv → CS + S, followed by recombination of two S atoms. The B″³Π_u state has been found 524 cm^-1 lower in energy than B³Σ^?_u     

MRD-CI ground state geometry and vertical spectrum of N3

CI calculations have been carried out for the prediction of the ground state geometry and of the vertical spectrum of N₃. The first three states are ²Π_g, ⁴Π_u and ²Σ⁺_u. The C_∞v correlation diagram for the first dissociation limits is discussed by taking into account possible nonadiabatic pathways.     

A theoretical study of the bound electronic states of the C−2 negative ion

Configuration interaction calculation are employed to study the X ²Σ⁺_g, A ²Π_u, B ²Σ⁺_u, ⁴Σ⁺_u and ⁴Δ_u states of the C^?₂ ion. The results are in good quantitative agreement with experimental findings for the Herzberg—Lagerquist (²Σ⁺_u-²Σ⁺_g) bands and predict a T_e value for the ²Π_u state of only 0.40 eV; corresponding transition moment results are obtained as a function of CC distance. The Cl electron affinity is 3.43 eV, in good agreement with the most recent experimental estimate for this quantity.     

Radiative lifetimes of the B1Π11 states of Li2

Model potential calculations of the B¹Π_uX¹Σ⁺_g transition dipole moment are used in conjunction with the empirical potential energy curves of Vidal and Hessel to calculate the radiative lifetimes of the vibrational levels of the B¹Π_u state. The lifetimes are nearly independent of the vibrational quantum number with a value between 8 and 9 ns.     

Predissociation of the c3Πu state of H2, populated after charge exchange of H2+ with several targets at keV energies

A detailed study of the predissocitation of the c³Π_u state of H₂ has been made with a new, very sensitive, experimental technique. A resolution better than 1% is obtained in the measurement of the released kinetic energy of HH pairs after charge exchange of H₂⁺ with Ar, H₂, Mg, Na and Cs by detecting both fragments with a time- and position-sensitive microchannel-plate detector. Eighteen vibrational levels of the c³Π_u state can be clearly distinguished in the range of 7.2–10.2 eV. Detailed information is extracted from the spectra with the aid of a convolution procedure. The vibrational energy levels of the c³Π_u state as calculated by Ko?os and Rychlewski are found to be correct within the experimental accuracy of 5 meV. Predissociative lifetimes are measured, yielding 6.2±0.5 ns for the lowest rovibrational level (υ = 0, N = 1), which are in good agreement with theoretical calculations of Comtet and de Bruijn. The cross section for charge exchange is observed to increase gradually with the vibrational level and seems to follow the geometrical cross section of the molecule. Rotational excitation during the charge exchange is also found to increase considerably with the vibrational quantum number. The final rotational temperature further depends strongly on the target gas used and increases with the resonance energy defect ΔI in the charge exchange collision.     

Geometric and electronic structure of ground and excited states of groupVA diatomics. A theoretical LCGTO-MP-LSD study

LCGTO-MP-LSD calculation was performed for the ground and several low-lying excited states of homo- (N₂, P₂, As₂, and Sb₂) and hetero-nuclear (PN, AsN, AsP, AsSb, SbN, and SbP) groupVA diatomics. For all the systems the ground state is found to be¹Σ⁺. For N₂ and P₂, the¹Σ _g ⁺ ground state is followed by the³Σ _u ⁺ ,³Π _g ,³Δ _u ,¹Π _g , and¹Δ _u low-lying exited states while for As₂ the order is found to be³Σ _u ⁺ ,³Δ _u ,³Π _g ,¹Δ _u ,¹Π _g . Finally for Sb₂ the relative stability of excited states is³Σ _u ⁺ ,³Δ _u ,¹Δ _u ,³Π _g ,¹Π _g . For the hetero-nuclear diatomics the¹Σ⁺ ground state is, in the case of PN, AsN, AsP, SbN, and SbP, followed by the³Σ⁺,³Δ,³Π,¹Π and¹Δ low-lying excited states while for the AsSb diatomic an inversion of stability of the two last singlets occurs. The calculated spectroscopic parameters (Re, ωe, andDe) are in good agreement with all the available experimental results while, theTe values are overestimated by about 0.5 eV. Mulliken population analysis shows that both homo- and hetero-nuclear groupVA diatomics are essentially triple bonded systems.     

Hyperfine interaction between the singlet and triplet ground states of Cs2: A textbook example of gerade-ungerade symmetry breaking

The hyperfine-induced mixing of high vibrational rotational levels (v > 125) of the Cs₂ X¹Σ_g⁺ ground state with levels of the a³Σ_u⁺ state has been discovered using Doppler-free double-resonance polarization spectroscopy. The observed spectral patterns can be explained by ungerade-gerade symmetry breaking induced by scalar indirect nuclear-spin-nuclear-spin interaction, which can be described by second-order perturbation theory.     

LIF measurement of the vibrational dependence of the N2(B 3Π g ) hyperfine splitting parameters

From very high resolution (8 MHz FWHM) LIF measurements, the hyperfine coupling constants of N₂(A ³Σ _u ⁺ ) and N₂(B ³Π _g ) have been obtained for three pairs of vibrational quantum numbersv′,v″. TheA-state constants are in very good agreement with accurate literature data. The vibrational dependence of some of theB-state constants is found to be much more pronounced. This is qualitatively explained in terms of the electronic structure of the two states.     

cw Two-photon transitions in K2 molecular beams

We report on the two-photon visible excitation spectra of potassium molecules in a supersonic beam. A dye laser excites K₂ to different (7s ¹Σ_g, 9s ¹Σ_g, 8d ¹Δ_g) Rydberg states. Two-photon transitions are detected by monitoring the resulting (third-photon) ionization. We have made detailed studies, including rotational assignment of 92 such transitions, ¹Δ_g(v¹, J¹) ← X ¹Σ_g(v = 0, J), where the B ¹Π_u state forms the intermediate enhancing state.     

Vibrational analysis of N2(B 3Πg and C 3Πu) and CO(X) excited in N2 discharge and post discharge

A spectroscopic characterization of a N₂ radiofrequency discharge and N₂CO post discharge has been performed. The relative vibrational distribution of the excited B ³Π_g and C ³Π_u states of nitrogen and their correlation with the ground state have been analyzed. The analysis confirms the importance of the metastable molecules. N₂(A ³Σ⁺_u), in affecting the vibrational distribution of nitrogen in its ground state in the discharge and post discharge. The vibrational analysis of the CO ground state, excited in the post discharge by vibrationally excited N₂ molecules, confirms the high degree of vibrational non-equilibrium in the ground state of nitrogen, in the presence of a low first-level vibrational temperature.     

Temperature dependence of the exciton—phonon coupling in the strong coupling limit: Results for solid nitrogen

High resolution (ΔE = 0.75 meV) absorption profiles of the vibronic bands in the range of the w¹Δ_u ← X¹Σ⁺_g and a¹II_g ← X¹Σ⁺_g exciton progressions at hv ≈ 8.9 eV in solid N₂ have been measured in the temperature range between 6 K and 30 K. These excitations are strongly localized so that the observed temperature dependence of the fine structure, consisting of a zero phonon line and a phonon side band, can be described very well in the model of strong exciton—phonon coupling at point defects. The experimental results for the w¹Δ_u transition are found to be consistent with the assumption of a Debye spectrum for the phonon density of states and we derive a value for the Debye temperature of θ = 78 K, which is in very good agreement with that derived from other measurements.     

Electronic states of Al2

Ab initio multi-configuration self-consistent field and first-order configuration interaction (FOCI) calculations in an extended basis set have been carried out for the lower energy electronic states of Al₂. The ten core electrons of each Al atom were replaced by an accurate compact effective core potential. The FOCI calculated T_o value for the ³Σ_g^?-³Σ_u^? transition agrees with the experimentally observed emission band to within 90 cm^?1. ³Π_u is calculated to be the electronic ground state of Al₂. Based on FOCI energies and qualitative intensity arguments, the reported optical absorption spectrum of matrix isolated Al₂ also agrees best with a ³Π_u ground state. The ³Σ_g^?1 state is calculated (T_e) at only 324 cm^?1 above the ³Π_u state, and the ¹ΣE_g⁺ state is predicted to lie higher.     

Electronic structure of He2−

The electronic structure of the He₂⁻ anion has been studied using optimized CI wavefunctions. We find that the ⁴Π_g state of He₂⁻ is bound relative to the a³Σ⁺_u state of He₂, with a calculated electron affinity of 0.182 eV. Only the lowest vibrational level of this anion is stable relative to the He₂(a³Σ⁺_u)+e continuum.     

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.     

C2 and CN formation by optical pumping of CO/Ar and Co/N2/Ar mixtures at room temperature

A continuous wave carbon monoxide laser is used to excite the vibrational mode of CO in CO/Ar and CO/N₂/Ar mixtures flowing through a gas absorption cell. High steady-state excitation of the CO vibrational mode (0.3 eV/molecule) is achieved, while a translational—rotational temperature near 300 K is maintained by the steady flow of cold gas into the cell. These non-equilibrium conditions result in extreme vibration—vibration pumping, population high-lying vibrational quantum levels (to V = 42) of CO. N₂ can also be pumped by vibrational energy transfer from CO. Under these conditions, C₂ and CN molecules are formed, and are observed to fluoresce on various electronic band transitions, notably C₂ Swan (A ³Π_g—X ³Π_u) and CN violet (B ²Σ⁺—X²Σ⁺).