Radiative transition probabilities of CO2+

Radiative transition probabilities (Einstein A coefficients), Franck-Condon factors, and radiative lifetimes have been determined for the X 3∏, 3Σ-, a1Σ +,1∏, C1Δ, and A3Σ + states of the CO2+ dication using ab initio potential energy, spin-orbit coupling, electric dipole and electronic transition moment functions, and the standard complex-scaling method. The calculated radiative lifetimes of the upper electronic states of the spin-allowed A 3Σ+-X3∏ and b1 ∏-a1Σ+ transitions are generally longer than their predissociating lifetimes, explaining thus the failure of the attempts made so far to observe CO2+ in the optical spectral region in a convincing fashion.