Jahn-Teller and related effects in the silver trimer. II: Vibrational analysis of the ÃE″2-X̃E′2 electronic transition

The laser-excited, jet-cooled AE″2-XE′2 electronic spectrum of the silver trimer yields detailed information about its A- and X-state vibronic structure. Following extensive parameter fitting, the absorption and emission spectra are simulated and the bands are assigned. The Jahn-Teller analysis includes both linear and quadratic coupling terms, considered simultaneously with spin-orbit coupling. The spin-orbit splitting is shown to be largely quenched in both the A and X electronic states. The Jahn-Teller analysis of the A and X vibronic structures reveals the distortion of their corresponding potential energy surfaces.