Near-dissociation photoabsorption spectra of LiH, NaH and KH

Abstract

New data on the photoabsorption spectra of LiH, NaK and KH are reported involving ground state X 1 Sigma and excited state A 1 Sigma near the dissociation limits. Rotational and vibrational analysis of the observed bands is presented: LiH X 1 Sigma V=1 to 1 Sigma (16<or=V<or=26)NaH X 1 Sigma V=0/V=1 to A 1 Sigma (13<or=V<or=22)/(12<or=V<or=25) KH X 1 Sigma V=0/V=1 to A 1 Sigma (24<or=V<or=34)/(27<or=V<or=38). In each molecule, the highest observed vibrational level lies very close to the dissociation limit and it corresponds to about 99% of the expected bands for the A 1 Sigma state potential energy curve.