PHOTOIONIZATION SPECTROSCOPY OF AGLI

An electronic spectrum is observed for the heteronuclear metal dimer, AgLi, with resonant two-photon ionization. The dimer is produced in a pulsed supersonic molecular beam by laser vaporization of a silver rod containing lithium as an impurity. The electronic state origin is nea r 304 nm, where an extensive vibrational progression (omega'(e) = 247. 8 cm(-1)) is observed. 'Hot bands' originating from excited vibrationa l levels in the ground electronic state allow calculation of the spect roscopic constants for this state (omega''(e) = 389.0 cm(-1)). The bon ding in AgLi is stronger than that in either Ag-2 or Li-2.