Laser excitation spectra of the CO+2 molecular ion A 2Πu→X 2Πg fluorescence

Abstract

The molecular CO+ 2 cations were generated in the X 2Π g ground state by the Penning ionizationreaction with neon metastable atoms. The vibrational and rotational distribution of the product ions was observed by the laser fluorescence method. These experiments demonstrate the possibility of using this technique to detect polyatomic ions in various environments, including flames, plasmas, etc. (AIP)