The C 0(u)(+) state of Ne-2 has been investigated by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet laser spectroscopy. Rotationally resolved spectra of the C 0(u)(+)(upsilon' = 0 - 12) <-- X 0(g)(+) (upsilon" = 0) transitions have been recorded for the isotopomer Ne-20(2), Ne-20-Ne-22 and Ne-20-Ne-21 and used to extract the potential energy curve of the C 0(u)(+) state in a nonlinear, least-squares fitting procedure. The resulting curve possesses the correct long-range behaviour and two tninima at internuclear distances of 2.95 and 4.09 Angstrom located -167.7 and -77.5 cm(-1) below the Ne(S-1(0)) + Ne*(3s'[1/2](J = 1)) dissociation limit, respectively. The C 0(u)(+) state is found to be predissociative and fragments to Ne(S-1(0)) + Ne*(3s'[3/2](J = 1)). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.