Rovibrational structure and potential energy function of the X 0+ ground electronic state of ArXe

Rotationally resolved (1 + 1') resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization spectra of the D 0⁺,C 1←X 0⁺ band systems of several isotopomers of ArXe were recorded at high resolution in the wave-number range from 77000 cm to 77300 cm using a near-Fourier-transform-limited vacuum-ultraviolet laser system. The rotational structure of the v^″=0,1 vibrational levels of the X 0⁺ ground state of ArXe could be fully resolved and assigned, leading to a new set of spectroscopic parameters. A 'direct potential fit' to a combination of these data with microwave spectroscopy results [W. Jäger et al., J. Chem. Phys. 99 (1993) 919-927] and virial coefficients yields an accurate new potential energy function with equilibrium distance R=4.095773(29) Å and well depth D=129.81(38) cm.