LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF LAF - LIGAND FIELD-THEORY ASSIGNMENT OF THE TRIPLET-STATE MANIFOLD AND ANALYSIS OF HYPERFINE-STRUCTURE

Wavelength-resolved fluorescence excitation techniques have been used to record eight electronic transitions of LaF at a resolution of 0.03 cm(-1). With few exceptions, Omega assignments were unambiguously dete rmined from observations of the first lines in at least two rotational branches. Accurate term energies and rotational constants are reporte d. Ligand field-theory calculations and hyperfine constants were used to suggest configurational assignments for the excited states of LaF.