Spectroscopy of the AlAr van der Waals complex: Rotationally resolved B 2Σ+←X 2Π1/2 electronic transitions

Abstract
Rotationally resolved spectra were recorded for six bands of the AlAr B 2Σ+←X 2Π1 / 2 transition. Vibrational and rotational constants derived from these spectra were used to determine the upper and lower state potential energy curves. The accuracy of these potentials was assessed through calculations of the spectroscopic constants and Franck–Condon factors. Dissociation energies of D ’ e =440+35 −8 cm− 1 and D ′ e =180+40 −10 cm− 1 were obtained for the B and X states, respectively. The interaction between X 2Π1 / 2 and the low‐lying A 2Σ+ state has been characterized by analysis of the ground‐state lambda doublet splitting.