The low-lying electronic states of Ar2F

A b initio POL-CI calculations are reported on the six lowest states of the Ar2F molecule for isosceles triangle (C2v) and linear Ar-Ar-F geometries. In the triangular configuration, the lowest Ar2+F− ionic state (2 2B2) is bound by 5.0 eV relative to Ar2+ (2Σ+u)+F− and by 0.6 eV relative to Ar+F− (2 2Σ+)+Ar. Emissions from this state to the repulsive states (1 2A1 and 1 2B2) dissociating to Ar+Ar+F are predicted at 268 and 274 nm with a combined lifetime of 128 nsec.