Laser Spectroscopy of Bound NaNe Molecules

We have produced the van der Waals molecule NaNe in a supersonic expansion, and have studied the A²Π→X²Σ transition using a single-mode cw dye laser. Using analysis based on isotope shifts and the long-range R^-6 behavior of the excited-state A²Π potential, we find its well depth and location to be DeA=140±3 cm^-1 at reA=(5.1±0.1)a₀ and for the X²Σ ground state, DeX=8.1±0.9 cm^-1 at reX=(10.0±0.2)a₀. These results are compared with pseudopotential calculations and several recent line-broadening and collisions experiments.