PHOTODISSOCIATION OF K2 (X1-SIGMA-G+-B1-PI-U)

A semiclassical model based on an orbital following picture to describe the dissociation dynamics of K2* (B 1-PI-u) is outlined. The results of this simple model are in complete quantitative agreement with an exact quantum calculation by Dubs and Julienne based on a half-collision multichannel quantum defect analysis (accompanying paper). These theoretical works give a complete description of the process and indicate that dissociation occurs adiabatically from the Hund's case (a) to the Hund's case (c) basis, followed by a sudden recoupling at long range to the Hund's case (e) basis. The experimentally observed bound-free excitation spectrum and the polarization of the atomic product fluorescence are in excellent agreement with the result of a full thermally averaged calculation based on this theoretical dynamical model.