Knowledge Bank

The use of a double-resonance laser excitation scheme and proper choice of intermediate electronic state has enabled the observation of high orbital angular momentum states of calcium monofluoride with $\ell$ $=$ 3 and one or two quanta of core vibrational excitation. These states undergo vibrational autoionization by $\Delta$v$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">+</mrow>}$ = 1 and $\Delta$v$\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">+</mrow>}$ = 1 processes. The structure of these states and their observed rates of autoionization are compared with the predictions of the long-range force model of core-nonpenetrating states.