A PSEUDO-JAHN-TELLER TREATMENT OF THE PSEUDOROTATIONAL SPECTRUM OF NA3

The B system of the two-photon ionization spectrum of Na3 is re-investigated theoretically, paying special attention to the influence of a nearby electronic state on the pseudorotational motion. It is found that the pseudo-Jahn-Teller coupling to this state can well account for the energy level structure and intensity distribution of the B system. The Jahn-Teller effect invoked previously in this context is possibly only of minor importance. The implications of these findings for the topological phase are discussed. © 1990.