THE GROUND-STATE OF COAR(+)

Rotationally resolved photodissociation spectra of CoAr+ have been obs erved for three different electronic transitions of the isolated ion. Analysis yields rotational constants and the angular momentum (spin pl us orbit) for both states in the transition. The bond length of the vi brationless ground state of this ion is determined to be r0 = 2.385 +/ - 0.005 angstrom consistent with a 3DELTA3 electronic state. Three ass igned excited-state diabatic dissociation limits enable the accurate d etermination of the adiabatic binding energy of ground state of CoAras D0 = 4111 +/- 5 cm-1. These values are discussed in comparison with recent ab initio theory.