FIRST OBSERVATION OF BOUND-CONTINUUM TRANSITIONS IN THE LASER INDUCED $A^{2}\Sigma^{+}_{u} -X^{1}C^{+}_{g}$ - FLUORESCENCE OF $K_{2}$

Author Institution: Iowa Laser Facility, University of Iowa; Dept. of Chemistry, National Kaohsiung Normal UniveristyWe report an interesting spectrum of K2 excited by a narrow band ring-dye laser. The laser wavelength used (7425.77 {\AA}) coincides with two $A^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{u} \leftarrow X^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{g}$ transitions starting from the levels $v^{\prime \prime} - 13, J^{\prime \prime} = 36$ and $v^{\prime \prime}= 15, J^{\prime \prime} =95$. The spectrum shows a long series of R-P doublets and a structured continuum with a broad maximum at $1.05 \mu m$. From the analysis we obtain a new value for the ground state dissociation energy of $K_{2}$