Spectroscopic observation and characterization of H(+)H(-) heavy Rydberg states

Heavy Rydberg states: large amplitude vibrations

Extremely large vibrational amplitude (≈8700 a.u.) heavy Rydberg levels in the HH[combining macron]1Σ+g state, located only 25 cm-1 below the ion-pair dissociation limit, are reported. The calculations are done using a hybrid log derivative/multichannel quantum defect approach that accounts for predissociation and is capable of dealing with any number of long-range closed channels, and of providing positions and widths for the heavy Rydberg resonances. In this case, resonance positions can be reproduced qualitatively using a simple diabatic model (however, the resonance widths cannot). Absolute quantum defects are derived for the vibrational series ranging from ν = 0 to ν = 2010. The influence of the Coulomb potential and continuity of heavy Rydberg behavior throughout the 1Σ+g manifold of states is demonstrated.

Communication: Heavy-Rydberg states of HD and the electron affinity of the deuterium atom

The electron affinity of the deuterium atom has been determined to be 6086.81(27) cm^-1 from a measurement of the difference between the D⁺ + H^- and H⁺ + D^- ion-pair dissociation energies and a thermochemical cycle involving the electron affinity of H and the ionization energies of H and D. Heavy-Rydberg states and the ion-pair dissociation thresholds of HD were accessed with good efficiency using a three-photon excitation sequence through the B Σu+1 (v = 22, N = 1) and H¯ Σg+1 (v = 9, N = 0) intermediate levels and the threshold positions were determined using the method of threshold-ion-pair-production spectroscopy.

Heavy Rydberg behaviour in high vibrational levels of some ion-pair states of the halogens and inter-halogens

We report the identification of heavy Rydberg resonances in the ion-pair spectra of I2, Cl2, ICl, and IBr. Extensive vibrational progressions are analysed in terms of the energy dependence of the quantum defect δ(Eb) rather than as Dunham expansions. This is shown to define the heavy Rydberg region, providing a more revealing fit to the data with fewer coefficients and leads just as easily to numbering data sets separated by gaps in the observed vibrational progressions. Interaction of heavy Rydberg states with electronic Rydberg states at avoided crossings on the inner wall of the ion-pair potential is shown to produce distinctive changes in the energy dependence of δ(Eb), with weak and strong interactions readily distinguished. Heavy Rydberg behaviour is found to extend well below near-dissociation states, down to vibrational levels ∼18,000-20,000 cm(-1) below dissociation. The rapid semi-classical calculation of δ(Eb) for heavy Rydberg states is emphasised and shows their absolute magnitude to be essentially the volume of phase space excluded from the vibrational motion by avoiding core-core penetration of the ions.