Comparison between predissociation mechanisms in two isoelectronic molecules: CO and N₂

Abstract

A correspondence between the observed electronic states of N₂ and CO is presented, in order to compare the perturbations and predissociations of these two isoelectronic molecules. The homogeneous perturbations between the ¹Σ⁺ (or ) and the ¹Π (or ¹Π _u ) states are reviewed, and comparisons are made between the indirect predissociations of the ¹Π states due to the ³Π states in both N₂ and CO.

Keywords:

• Molecular spectra
• Rydberg states
• Energy surfaces for excited electronic states
• Predissociations

Acknowledgements

The authors thank M. Eidelsberg and W. Ubachs for a critical reading of the manuscript. Partial support was provided by the Australian Research Council's Discovery Program (Grant DP0558962).