Two-photon resonant multiphoton ionization spectra of Xe-2 and Kr-2 ha
ve been recorded using linearly and circularly polarized light. Electr
onic symmetries for gerade excited Rydberg states that dissociate to (
Xe+Xe6p, 5d) and (Kr+Kr*5p) are proposed from the resultant intensity
changes, and comparisons are made with the predictions of ab initio t
heory.