D1(5(1)P(1))[-X0(-BEAMS()(5(1)S(0)) SPECTRA OF CDNE AND CDAR EXCITED IN CROSSED MOLECULAR AND LASER)

Pump-and-probe methods of laser spectroscopy, used together with a jet -expansion molecular beam, were used to record AO(+)(5(3)P(1))<--XO(+) (5(1)S(O)) and D1(5(1)P(1))<--XO(+)(5(1)S(O)) excitation spectra of Cd Ne and CdAr van der Waals molecules. The spectra were subjected to vib rational analysis and the assignments of the components were made with the aid of a computer-simulated spectrum based on Franck Condon facto rs calculated assuming the Morse potential;as representative of the lo wer and upper electronic states. The analysis yielded spectroscopic co nstants for the XO(+), AO(+), and D1 states of CdNe and CdAr. Consider ations of the linear dependence of the dissociation energy D-e of CdRG molecules on rare-gas (RG) polarizability led to the development of a n empirical calculation of D-e and bond lengths for various states in metal-rare-gas van der Waals complexes; the calculations also yielded polarizabilities of some ground-state and excited metal atoms.