SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A ELSEVIER Spectrochimica Acta Part A 52 (1996) 409-418 Analysis and transition probabilities of the BlI-Iu X Zg system of Na2 excited by the 5017 A line of the argon ion laser J.M.L. Poyato*, J.J. Camacho, A.M. Polo, A. Pardo Departamento de Quimica-Fisica Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain Received 14 June 1995; revised 4 October 1995; accepted 14 September 1995 Abstract The fluorescence spectrum of Na2 induced by the 5017.16 A line of an argon ion laser has been analyzed. This work extends previous observations on Na2 by using this excitation line. We have observed seven fluorescence series for the BtFIu~X~E~, band system corresponding to the excitation transitions: v'= 5, J' = 37~v"= 6, J"= 38; v' = 5, J' = 88 4---v "= 5, J" = 87; v'= 5, J'= 124.-#'=3, J"= 125; v'=O, J' = 42.-- v" = 2, J" = 43; v'= 10, J'= 78~v" = 9, J"=77; v'=14, J'=68~v"= 12, J"=68 and v'=15, J'=58*--v"= 13, J"=58. The latter four series are reported for the first time. The radiative transition probabilities for the observed fluorescence series are calculated by using hybrid Perturbed-Morse-Oscillator (PMO)-Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR)-long range potential energy curves for the BtFIu and X~Y~g states and ab initio transition dipole moment function. Radiative lifetimes of the rovibrational levels of the upper state pumped by the laser line have also been calculated. The transition probabilities and lifetimes are in good agreement with the corresponding observed measurements usually within the experimental uncertainty. From the rotational satellite structure of some bands, collision-induced transition rates and average cross sections have been determined. Keywords: Fluorescence; Laser; Na2; Rotational satellite; Transition probability 1. Introduction The spectroscopy of alkali dimer molecules has been of considerable interest. In the last few years the development of the new optically pumped laser has given additional importance to the laser induced fluorescence studies of these molecules. Especially, the fluorescence intensity data are im- * Corresponding author. portant in this new development. Owing to the high absorption and emission cross section and ease of production, the Na2 is of particular inter- est for laser systems in the visible region. A literature review of papers published up to 1982 on Na2 can be found in Verma et al. [1]. The laser induced fluorescence spectra of Na2 for the B~Ho--.X1Z + band system induced by several Ar + laser lines have been analyzed by different authors [2-4]. Kusch and Hessel [4] especially, have reported a very accurate and extensive anal- 0584-8539/96/$15.00 © 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved SSDI 0584-8539(95)01579-5