High lying gerade Rydberg states of molecular iodine.

Two new (2+1) multiphoton ionization spectra of gerade Rydberg states of molecular iodine are observed in the 310.0–322.5 and the 285.5–295.5 nm ranges. These spectra were obtained in both a conventional MPI cell and in a TOF molecular beam apparatus. A long progression in the 310.0–322.5 nm range is suggested to be 2g(2Π3/2g)ndσg, having a band origin at 62 440 cm-1. Three progressions in the 285.5–295.5 nm range are suggested to be 2g, 1g, 0g(2Π3/2g)(n+1)dσg, having band origins at 68 335, 68 407, and 68 434 cm-1, respectively. The photodissociation behavior of molecular iodine in a MPI process is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]