Electronic states of Bi2

Laser-induced fluorescence and thermal emission spectra of Bi2 have been recorded at high resolution by Fourier transform spectrometry. Extensive analyses, involving the assignment of more than 20 000 lines, have been made of transitions involving the states X 0+ g, a lu(3Σ+ u), A 0+ u(3Σ- u) and E lg. The electronic states of Bi2 are reviewed, and comparison is made with the results of ab initio calculations.