Interference in the angular cross section for photodissociation of metastableH2

The anisotropy of the photodissociation cross section of metastable ${\mathrm{H}}_2$ for excitation around the resonance due to the ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{g}}^{\mathrm{-}}{}_{}{}^{}$(v=5,N+2) level is investigated. The ${\mathit{j}}^3$ ${\mathrm{\Delta }}_{\mathit{g}}^{\mathrm{-}}$(v=5,N=2) state is coupled to the continuum of the ${\mathit{i}}^3$ ${\mathrm{\Pi }}_{\mathit{g}}^{\mathrm{-}}$ state by the nuclear rotation. Since both states carry oscillator strength, the cross section shows interference effects. The interference is difficult to detect on the total cross section, but is clearly seen in the angular distribution of the photofragments.