A theoretical study of the predissociation of the c 4Σ−u state of O+2

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Abstract
Extensive configuration‐interaction calculations have been carried out to determine the potential curve for the c 4Σ−u state of O+2. The results show that this state is quasibound with a low potential barrier that could accomodate only few vibrational levels. The lifetimes with respect to the tunneling through the barrier are found to be too short, but the radiative lifetime of 2×10−8 sec for the v=O level is shown to be reliable. Based on these results with available experimental data, a semiempirical curve has been constructed and the mean lifetimes have been determined to be 10−8 and 5×10−11 sec for the levels v=O and 1, respectively. This result clearly explains absence of the v=1 level in emission, and leads to a conclusion that the tunneling should be the dominant mechanism for the predissociation of the c 4Σ−u state of O+2.