Triplet-singlet transitions of Rb/sub 2/ by resonance enhanced two-photon ionization spectroscopy (RE2PI) in supersonic molecular beam

Summary form only given, as follows. A laser spectroscopic study of alkali metal dimers is good for understanding the perturbation and photodissociation dynamics of the molecule in excited states because alkali metal dimers have many potential energy curves that are often coupled to one another by strong interactions from the near-IR to UV region. Furthermore, it may provide a good model system for the control of chemical reactions, which recently attracted much interest. The combination of multiphoton ionization and time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometric detection in a very cold molecular beam of Rb/sub 2/ enables us to obtain a greatly simplified excitation spectrum of all isotopic species separately as well as simultaneously. A very cold molecular beam of Rb/sub 2/ is generated using a high-temperature pulsed nozzle. This nozzle is extremely effective in reducing the internal temperatures of the alkali metal dimers and provides a very high concentration of alkali metal vapor in a pulsed molecular beam.