The VUV Absorption Spectra of SiF and SiF+

The absorption spectrum of a microwave discharge (2450 MHz) in flowing helium with traces of SiF4 has been recorded on the SA61 beam line of SUPERACO between 2000 and 500 Å. Two new ionization energies have been observed at 15.12 and 17.27 eV corresponding, respectively, to the A1Pi and B1Sigma+ states of SiF+. The A1Pi <-- X1Sigma+ transition of the ion has been identified for the first time on high-resolution spectra obtained in 1992 with the 35-foot Eagle spectrograph in Meudon. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.