Photofragmentation spectra and potential energy surfaces of Sr+Ar2

The photofragmentation spectrum of the Sr+Ar2 duster has been recorded in a time of flight mass spectrometer and in the energy range 21 000-27 000 cm( -1). Three absorption bands are observed which are related to transitions f rom the ground electronic state, X (2)A(1), to the three states that correl ate with 5p orbitals of Sr+. The first and third bands result from the prod uction of pure Sr+, while the second band is associated with the production of Sr+ and Sr+Ar in almost equal amounts. Potential energy surfaces comput ed using a one electron perturbation theory and expression in analytical fo rms offer a framework for the interpretation of the photofragmentation spec tra.