Molecular emission of a dense Cd vapour following strong laser excitation at lambda = 326.1 nm was discovered in the spectral range of 315-345 nm. Electronic transitions involving two Rydberg states 0(u)(+) and 1(u) correlated with the asymptotes 6(1)S(1) + 5(1)S(0) and 6(3)S(1) + 5(1)S(0) and the lowest gerade excimer states correlated with the 5(3)P(0,1,2) + 5(1)S(0) asymptotes are identified. Vibrational structures of several nu' progressions are analyzed yielding the spectroscopic constants omega(e) and omega(e)x(e) for both of the upper states and for one of the lower states (1(g)). The shape of the potential energy curves of the previously unobserved upper states are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.