Laser-induced fluorescence of Pb2

Pb₂, which occurs in lead vapor, was studied by the technique of laser-induced fluorescence using single-mode Ar-laser excitation. The fluorescence observed could be classified into the F-X system. Ten progressions involving vibrational quantum numbers v′ = 0?9 and v″ = 0?22 were analyzed. Including collision-induced lines, rotational quantum numbers from J = 25 to J = 300 were observed. The vibrational constants and the numbering of the states had to be reassigned. For the first time rotational constants were determined for the Pb₂ molecule. The internuclear distances of ²⁰⁸Pb₂ in the F and X state are $\text{r = 3.079}\text{A}\text{?}$ and $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{= 2.930}\text{A}\text{?}$, respectively. Using the constants derived RKR potentials and Franck-Condon factors were calculated, which confirmed the vibrational assignments and constants.