Lifetime measurements of the D 1Πu state of the 7Li2

Rovibrational levels of the D 1Πu state of the 7Li2 molecule were selectively excited by a tunable frequency-doubled mode-locked cavity-dumped cw dye laser. Their radiative lifetimes were measured by the delayed-coincidence single-photon counting technique. The comparison of the experimental results with the predictions of ab initio calculations yields a more comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the non-adiabatic coupling mechanisms between the D 1Πu state and the 3 1Πu state which determine the structure and dynamics of the rovibrational levels of the D 1Πu state of 7Li2.