PREDISSOCIATION OF THE $A^{2}\Sigma^{+}$ STATE OF CARBON MONOFLUORIDE

Abstract

The predissociation In the $A^{2}\Sigma^{+}$ state of CF and the results of MCSCF calculations of the low lying CF electronic states have been described at previous $symposia.^{1,2}$ The width of the $A^{2}\Sigma^{+}$-X$^{2}\Pi$ (2,0) lines increases rapidly with rotational quantum number, $N^{\prime} > 35$. The ab initio potential for the predissociating state, $a^{4}\Sigma^{-}$, develops a barrier with a maximum near 3.5 $a_{0}$. We have calculated the vibrational overlap matrix elements for scaled potentials representing the $A^{2}\Sigma^{+}$ and $a^{4}\Sigma^{-}$ states. The line width pattern calculated from these matrix elements is consistent with the observed pattern. The influence of vibrational-rotational (shape) resonances of the $a^{4}\Sigma^{-}$ state on the line width pattern will be discussed.