Simultaneous optical excitation of Na electronic and CF(4) vibrational modes in Na+CF(4) collisions.

We report on the ultraviolet excitation of Na(3s)+CF(4) collision pairs in a crossed molecular beam experiment. We observe Na(3d) collision products originating from the process Na(3s)+CF(4)(nu(3)=0)+hnu-->Na(3d)+CF(4)(nu(3)=1). The spectral intensity distribution of the collision products and the prevailing small angle scattering confirm a previously proposed long range dipole-dipole mechanism. We report velocity-resolved spectra and a comparison to preliminary numerical results based on collisional broadening theory. Polarization experiments suggest future potential for the observation of collision geometries.