ON THE DISSOCIATION-ENERGY OF O-2 AND THE ENERGY OF THE O-2(+)B4-SIGMA-G- STATE

We note here that a significant discrepancy exists between the recently determined dissociation energy of the O2 B 3SIGMA(u)- state and the energy of the O(1D2) + O(P(3)2) dissociation limit determined in a spectroscopic cycle. The major contribution to this discrepancy appears to be the currently accepted value for the energy of the O2+ b 4SIGMA(g)- state relative to the ground electronic state of molecular oxygen.