FRAGMENTATION OF VALENCE ELECTRONIC STATES OF BF3+ BELOW 21.2 EV

The dissociation of the five electronic states of BF3+ lying below 21. 2 eV has been investigated using a photoelectron-photoion coincidence technique. AboVe the dissociation threshold BF2+ is the sole ionic dis sociation product. Earlier theoretical work suggests strong vibronic c ouplings for this manifold of electronic states and the dynamical impl ications of such interactions are considered in an examination of the energy redistribution in the fragmentation. The possible involvement o f an electronically excited state of BF2+ is outlined and ab initio ca lculations to establish the excitation energy of such a state are repo rted.