First Spectroscopic Observation of theCΠu2Excited State ofH2+

Abstract
The translational-energy spectroscopy is used to search for the first transitions from the XΣg2 ground state of H2+ to bound excited electronic states. Electron impact is used to create the H2+ ions from CH4. It is known that electron impact on CH4 creates H2+ ions highly rwotationally excited. A transition is observed centered at 10.2 eV. The observed peak is assigned to the optically allowed transitions XΣg+2CΠu2.