Spectroscopic characterization and potential energy functions of the six low-lying electronic states of ArKr⁺

Abstract

Pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy (PFI-ZEKE) photoelectron spectra of ArKr have been recorded in the wavenumber range 108,000–118,000 cm⁻¹ using a 1 + 1′ two-photon resonant excitation scheme from the ground X 0⁺ state of ArKr via selected intermediate states located just below the Ar(¹S₀) + Kr([5p[1/2]₀) dissociation limit. The positions of ionic vibrational levels with quantum numbers from 1 to 30, from 0 to 8 and from 0 to 6 were determined for the X(1/2), A₁(3/2) and A₂(1/2) states, respectively. The assignment of absolute vibrational quantum numbers of the ionic states was derived from the isotopic shifts of the spectral lines. Combining these data with literature data on the B(1/2) → X(1/2), C₁(3/2) → A₁(3/2) and C₂(1/2) → A₂(1/2) band systems of ArKr⁺ enabled the derivation of potential energy functions for the lowest six electronic states of ArKr⁺ using a global potential model that includes the effects of the spin-orbit, charge-exchange and long-range interactions.

Keywords:

• rare gas dimer ions
• vacuum ultraviolet laser spectroscopy
• PFI-ZEKE photoelectron spectroscopy
• Rydberg states, photoionization

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. O. Zehnder for useful discussions. This work is supported financially by the Swiss National Science Foundation under project No. 200020-116245.