Correlations between Electronic States of Atoms and Molecules in the Alkali Earth Hydrides

Abstract

IN a recent paper, More and Cornell1 discuss the potential energy curves for strontium hydride (SrH) based on some absorption investigations of the C and D band systems of this hydride. Two years ago, in a similar investigation (not mentioned in the paper of More and Cornell), I obtained2 somewhat different results concerning the correlation between the energy levels of SrH and Sr + H. More and Cornell suggest that the C, 2I£ state of SrH predissociates into the 3D level of Sr. Correspondingly, the D, 2I£ and E, 2I are connected with 3D, and the A, 2I and B, 2I£ with the 3P state of Sr. In my previous work, on the contrary, I proposed the 3P level of Sr as the predissociation limit of C,2I£, all remaining states A, B, D and E dissociating into 3P. This correlation of mine was suggested as an alternative in the paper of More and Cornell.