The binding energies of NO–Rg (Rg = He, Ne, Ar) determined by velocity map imaging

Abstract

We report velocity map imaging measurements of the binding energies, D0, of NO–Rg (Rg = He, Ne, Ar) complexes. The X state binding energies determined are 3.0 ± 1.8, 28.6 ± 1.7, and 93.5 ± 0.9 cm−1 for NO–He, –Ne, and –Ar, respectively. These values compare reasonably well with ab initio calculations. Because the A–X transitions were unable to be observed for NO–He and NO–Ne, values for the binding energies in the A state of these complexes have not been determined. Based on our X state value and the reported A–X origin band position, the A state binding energy for NO–Ar was determined to be 50.6 ± 0.9 cm−1.