The argon dimer cation is produced in a plasma generated by a laser spark in a supersonic expansion. The cold ions are mass selected and investigated by photodissociation at 355 nm, with velocity map imaging of the Ar+. photofragment. Using the radius of the image, we determine the kinetic energy release and derive the ground state dissociation energy of Ar-2(+) as D-0" = 1.32 +0.03/0.02 eV. Additionally, the angular distribution is described with 13 = 1.71-1.95, consistent with excitation of the parallel-type (2)Sigma(+<- 2)(g)Sigma(+)(u)transition. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.