Knowledge Bank

A pulsed dye laser apparatus was used to obtain lifetime data for $Bi2(A0u+\to X1\Sigma g+)$ transitions. The collision free lifetimes for $v\prime =20$ to $v\prime =39$, and $J\le 105$, were investigated for effects of heterogeneous predissociation. The observed predissociation rates, establish $kpd,v\prime =153$ 1/sec to $1.5\times 1051/sec$ for $v\prime =21$ to 39. Rapid predissociation and the dense $Bi2(A\to X)$ spectrum require both traditional lifetime measurements and synthetic spectrum to determine the full range of observed rates.