15min:

VASILIY V. GONCHAROV, LEONID A. KALEDIN, JIANDE HAN AND MICHAEL C. HEAVEN, Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322.

The electronic spectra and ionization potentials of UO and UO₂ are being investigated using resonantly enhanced multi-photon ionization combined with mass resolved ion detection. Several new band systems for both molecules have been observed in the near UV spectral range (330-370 nm). The ionization potentials have been probed using single- and two-photon (1+1') excitation. The spectroscopic data for UO₂ have been used to evaluate the predictions of ab initio and ligand field theory models. A summary of the spectroscopic results and a discussion of the electronic state assignments will be presented.