The A 1Sigmau+ state of K2 up to the dissociation limit.

We report an experimental study of the K(2) A (1)Sigma(u) (+) state. Long-range levels up to the dissociation limit were observed in a two laser spectroscopic experiment using a highly collimated molecular beam. We derive an analytical potential energy curve for the complete A state including long-range dispersion terms. From these, we obtain radiative atomic lifetimes of 26.74(3) ns for the 4p(1/2) state and 26.39(3) ns for the 4p(3/2) state of (39)K. The dissociation energy of the X (1)Sigma(g) (+) ground state with respect to v=0, J=0 is found to be D(0)=4404.808(4) cm(-1).