Charge-transfer production of predissociated N2 states. I. The n= 3 Rydberg state region (12.8-14 eV)

An experimental study is presented on the predissociation of perturbed n=3 Rydberg systems in N₂ converging to the X²Š⁺_g and A² Ýu ions states. The Rydberg states are formed in collisions of N⁺₂ with cesium at energies between 4.8 and 7 keV. The dissociation fragments are recorded using translational spectroscopy. Assignment of the Rydberg states is realized with a selective laser excitation technique. The laser excitation also reveals the ion core excitation concurrent with electron transfer is a significant mechanism in the charge-transfer formation of the (3sog)A⁺ Rydberg states. The (3pý_u)x⁺G³Ý_u(v=O), (3po_u)X⁺D³Š⁺_u(v=O), (3so_g)A⁺F³Ý_u(v=0-3), and (3so_g)A⁺o¹Ý_u(v=0-4) states are observed with all levels predissociating to N(²D)+N(⁴S)atoms. The vibrational numbering of the F³Ý_u state is reassigned with respect to earlier work.