THE CO-DOT-CO2 ELECTROSTATIC COMPLEX - GEOMETRY AND POTENTIAL(CENTER)

The electrostatic complex of Co+ with a single CO2 molecule is studied by optical excitation of a 3d74s-3d8 transition centered on the metal ion. Excited-state vibrational information is used to characterize th e diabatic molecular potential in terms of spectroscopic constants. Tw o vibrational frequencies and five anharmonicity constants characteriz e the forces of complexation, all of which have been determined experi mentally. Analysis of the rotational contours indicates the complex is linear in its ground electronic state with a Co+-C separation of 3.30 angstrom (the smaller Co+-O distance: 2.14 angstrom) in the zero-poin t level of the complex.