The electronic transition moment of the B O+u–X 1Σ+g system of I2 through gain measurements of an I2 optically pumped laser

The electronic transition moment of the I2 B O+u–X 1Σ+g system is determined over a range of R-centroid from 2.8–4.6 Å through gain measurements of an optically pumper I2 laser. The technique reported here represents an important new application of optically pumped diatomic lasers allowing accurate determination of relative dipole strength functions from gain measurements. The results are in agreement with the qualitative predictions of Brewer and Tellinghuisen [J. Chem. Phys. 56, 3929 (1972)].