Action spectroscopy of SrCl+ using an integrated ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer

The photodissociation cross-section of SrCl+ is measured in the spectral range of 36 000-46 000 cm(-1) using a modular time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). By irradiating a sample of trapped SrCl+ molecular ions with a pulsed dye laser, X-1 Sigma(+) state molecular ions are electronically excited to the repulsive wall of the A(1)Pi state, resulting in dissociation. Using the TOF-MS, the product fragments are detected and the photodissociation cross-section is determined for a broad range of photon energies. Detailed ab initio calculations of the SrCl+ molecular potentials and spectroscopic constants are also performed and are found to be in good agreement with experiment. The spectroscopic constants for SrCl+ are also compared to those of another alkaline earth halogen, BaCl+, in order to highlight structural differences between the two molecular ions. This work represents the first spectroscopy and ab initio calculations of SrCl+. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.