The B←X electronic spectrum of N+2–Ne

The electronic spectrum of N+2–Ne has been measured in the region corresponding to the B 2∑+u←X 2∑+g origin and 1–0 transitions of N+2. Spectra were obtained by irradiating a mass selected population of N+2–Ne and monitoring the production of N+2 as a function of wavelength. Low temperature N+2–Ne spectra exhibit several well resolved bands. From the shift of the N+2–Ne origin with respect to that of free N+2 it is apparent that the complex dissociation energy D0 is 146.5 cm−1 greater in the B state than the X state. Pronounced changes in the complex’s spectrum occur as the effective temperature is increased. The hottest spectra resemble a broadened and truncated N+2 spectrum. The breaking off at the high energy end of the spectrum at elevated temperatures allows us to establish a rough ground-state dissociation energy of 300 cm−1. Other conclusions resulting from this work are that the equilibrium geometry of the N+2–Ne molecule is probably linear in X and B electronic states, that the ΔG1/2 for the low frequency stretch in the B state is 104 cm−1, and that the N–N stretching motion is affected only very weakly by the presence of the Ne atom.