Rotationally resolved isotope-selective laser spectroscopy of the Ag2 molecule

Abstract Seven rotationally resolved bands (0 ← 0) to (6 ← 0) in the B 1 Π u ← X 1 Σ g system of the three Ag 2 isotopes have been measured following excitation of Ag 2 molecules with a narrow band frequency-doubled pulsed tunable dyelaser in a collimated supersonic Ar Ag 2 beam. The excited molecules are ionized through one-photon transitions induced by an XeCl laser and the ions are detected behind a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The three Ag 2 isotopes are separated and their spectra are recorded simultaneously. Band origins and rotational constants of upper and lower states are determined.