Configuration interaction and spin-orbit coupling in the Fox-Herzberg system of C 2

Abstract

Spin-orbit coupling constants have been obtained for the e 3Π g state of C 2 from a remeasurement of several bands of the e 3Π g - a 3Π u band system and a reanalysis of these and other previously published measurements. The spin-orbit constants A v of the upper state are small, and the change of A v with v is anomalously large. This behavior is consistent with the assumption of a large change in orbital configuration for the e state, as predicted by ab initio calculations.