Formation and dissociation of , , and ions by ruby laser radiation

Abstract

Multiphoton ionization of K2, Rb2, and Cs2 in beam conditions by pulsed ruby laser radiation (λ = 6946.0 Å, pulse duration ~10 ns) and subsequent dissociation of the dimer ions by one or more additional photons have been observed. Ground-state dissociation energies of these ionic species have been determined directly from the time of flight of the dissociation fragment pairs, and from the use of retarding potentials, to be [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. These observed values have been compared with the theoretical and experimental work of other authors. Our results for the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ions are the first direct measurements of their ground-state dissociation energies. The effect of laser polarization on the dissociation mechanism has also been experimentally investigated.