Dissociative decay of NeH and NeD Rydberg states: A strong isotope effect

Abstract
Radiative and predissociative decay of the n=2 Rydberg states of NeH and NeD is examined using translational spectroscopy to determine the c.m. kinetic energies of the dissociation fragments. The n=2 states are produced from 5 keV NeH+ and NeD+ by electron capture in Cs vapor. Expected radiative dissociation of the B 2Π state is observed in NeH, as is predissociation of the A 2Σ+. However, a surprisingly strong suppression of predissociation occurs in NeD. It is attributed primarily to a reduced overlap of the bound and continuum nuclear wave functions, and results in radiative decay. The results for both species support calculations of Theodorakopoulos et al. [J. Phys. B 20, 5335 (1987)].

This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit: