Spectroscopic characterization of the potential energy functions of Ne2 Rydberg states in the vicinity of the Ne(1S0) + Ne(4p′) dissociation limits

The gerade autoionizing Rydberg states of Ne2 have been studied in the range 162 000-172 000 cm−1 by 1 + 1′ resonant two-photon excitation from the Ne2 X 0g+ ground state via different vibrational levels of the Ne2 C 0u+ state. A rotationally resolved part of the spectrum allowed the determination of the potential energy functions of two states of 1g and 0g+ characters in the vicinity of the Ne(2p61S0) + Ne (2p54p′) dissociation limit. The presence of maxima in these potential energy functions is interpreted as originating from a repulsive interaction between the Rydberg electron and the neutral atom.