Short-range repulsion in the -state potential of the ZnRg (Rg = Ne, Ar, Kr) complexes determined from a direct free ← bound excitation at the transition

Laser-induced fluorescence excitation spectra observed using the D 1 Σ 0 + ← X 1 Σ 0 + transition were used to determine the D 1 Σ 0 + -state potential in ZnNe, ZnAr and ZnKr. The complexes were produced in a free-jet expansion beam and excited with a dye-laser beam from the ground to the excited state. Analysis of the unstructured free ← bound profiles yielded information on the short-range repulsive part of the D 1 Σ 0 + -state potential. Ab initio calculations of the potential energy curves for the ground and excites states as well as for electronic transition dipole moments of the studied transition were performed taking scalar relativistic and spin–orbit effects into account.