Postcollision interaction upon electron excitation of the 5sns 1 S 0 and 5snd 3 D j levels of the cadmium atom

The optical excitation functions (OEFs) for two series of spectral lines of the Cd atom originating from the 5sns ¹ S ₀ (n = 6?11) and 5snd ³ D _{1, 2, 3} (n = 5 and 6) levels excited by an ultramonoenergetic (ΔE _1/2 < 0.05 eV) electron beam with energies exceeding the single ionization threshold are presented. In the energy range from 10.8 to 12.9 eV, the energy dependences of the excitation cross sections of the studied spectral transitions exhibit the effect of postcollision interaction of slow scattered and fast emitted electrons. This process leads to an additional population of the initial levels of the spectral transitions due to the capture of a scattered electron into an excited atomic level. The energies and widths of the electronic decay of autoionizing states are estimated in the classical approach by two methods, namely, by the least squares method and by direct calculation. Calculations are performed using approximate formulas valid for different relations between the postcollision shifts of the OEF maxima and the binding energies of the atomic levels. The terms of the autoionizing atomic states responsible for the maxima observed in the OEFs of the spectral transitions are determined.     

Investigation of the 6p 2(3 P 0)n p Rydberg series of bismuth by multiphoton excitation

Rydberg states of the odd-parity series 6p ²(³ p ₀)n p of BiI are excited by a three-photon process. A two-photon dissociation of Bi₂ into excited atomic states followed by a one-photon absorption leads to highly excited atomic Rydberg states up ton = 32. States of the even-parity Rydberg series 6p ²(³ p ₀)nsJ=1/2,ndJ=3/2 andndJ=5/2 are also observed. In order to avoid the background caused by ionization of the bismuth molecules we performed a two-color excitation with pulsed dye lasers. With this experiment the 6p ²(³ p ₀)npJ=3/2 Rydberg series could be resolved up ton=75. The increasing quantum defect of this series is due to a perturbing state close to the first ionization limit. By a MQDT analysis we obtain the energy of the perturbing state and a value of 58,761.68±0.1 cm^?1 for the first ionization limit of atomic bismuth.     

On the mechanisms of formation of excited hydrogen atoms in a decaying helium-hydrogen plasma

We spectroscopically studied the population of the excited hydrogen atomic states with the principal quantum numbers n=3 and 4 in a decaying plasma produced by a pulsed discharge in a mixture of helium (p=40.4 Torr) with a small amount of hydrogen ([H₂]≈10¹² cm^?3). Experiments on recording the response of the spectral line intensities to a short-duration electron temperature perturbation revealed the contribution of electron-ion recombination to the population of the H*(n=3) states in the early afterglow. The ions produced by collisions of hydrogen molecules with metastable He(2³ S ₁) atoms, whose density decreases relatively rapidly with time in the decaying plasma, were assumed to be involved in this process. No population of the H*(n=4) atomic levels due to electron-ion recombination was found. Our experimental results are consistent with the conclusions of previous studies that excitation transfer during collisions of metastable helium molecules with hydrogen molecules plays a major role in the population of the excited hydrogen atomic states both with n=3 and with n=4 during most of the afterglow.     

Near-threshold electron-impact ionization of calcium atoms

The electron-impact ionization of calcium atoms is studied in the near-threshold energy range (from 6.11 to 16 eV). Experiments were performed by the method of intersecting electron and atomic beams with the recording of formed positive calcium ions. The electron beam (ΔE _1/2 = 0.15 eV) was formed using a hypocycloidal electron monochromator. An analysis of the specific features of ionization cross sections revealed a contribution from the excitation and decay of low-lying autoionization atomic states, which converge to the excitation thresholds of the 3d, 4p, and 5s ionic levels, and resonances (long-lived states of negative ions). The specific features of cross sections are identified using the experimental and theoretical data on photoionization (photoabsorption).     

Resonances at collisions of slow electrons with cadmium atoms and ions

Using the crossed-beam method and a hypocycloidal electron spectrometer, the energy dependence of the ionization cross section for the cadmium atom has been studied in the near-threshold region and the elastic scattering of slow electrons at an angle close to 180° by Cd⁺ ions was studied for the first time. Within the region under study (0–7 eV above the first atomic ionization potential), a resonance structure determined by the contribution of atomic autoionization states is revealed in both the ionization curve and differential cross section of elastic scattering. The structure in the measured curves has been analyzed with the use of data on the ejected-electron spectra obtained under the excitation of autoionization states of Cd atoms, as well as the data on the optical excitation functions for the atomic spectral lines at λ=430.7 nm (5¹ P ₁-8¹ S ₀), 515.5 nm (5¹ P ₁-7¹ S ₀), 298.0 nm (5³ P ₂-6³ D _j ), and 361.0 nm (5³ P ₂-5³ D _j ).     

Lifetimes and oscillator strengths in the triplet system of ZnI

Selective laser excitation was used to measure the radiative lifetimes of the ZnI triplet states 4sns ³ S ₁(n=5–7) and 4snd ³ D ₃,³ D ₂ and³ D ₁(n=4–6). These states were excited from the metastable 4s4p ³ P states, which were collisionally populated in an atomic beam. The values are compared with the results of other experimental methods (beam-foil, pulsed electron excitation, Hanle effect) and with theoretical calculations. The corresponding oscillator strengths are discussed with respect to the astrophysical determination of the Zn photospheric abundance.     

Excitation of helium atoms in collisions with plasma electrons in an electric field

The rate constants are evaluated for excitation of helium atoms in metastable states by electron impact if ionized helium is located in an external electric field and is supported by it, such that a typical electron energy is small compared to the atomic excitation energy. Under these conditions, atomic excitation is determined both by the electron traveling in the space of electron energies toward the excitation threshold and by the subsequent atomic excitation, which is a self-consistent process because it leads to a sharp decrease in the energy distribution function of electrons, which in turn determines the excitation rate. The excitation rate constant is calculated for the regimes of low and high electron densities, and in the last case, it is small compared to the equilibrium rate constant where the Maxwell distribution function is realized including its tail. Quenching of metastable atomic states by electron impact results in excitation of higher excited states, rather than transition to the ground electron state for the electric field strengths under consideration. Therefore, at restricted electron number densities, the rate of emission of resonant photons of the wavelength 58 nm, which results from the transition from the 2¹ P state of the helium atom to the ground state, is close to the excitation rate of metastable atomic states. The efficiency of atomic excitation in ionized helium, i.e., the part of energy of an electric field injected in ionized helium that is spent on atomic excitation, is evaluated. The results exhibit the importance of electron kinetics for an ionized gas located in an electric field.     

介质阻挡均匀大气压氮气放电特性研究

基于一维流体力学模型，对介质阻挡均匀大气压氮气放电特性进行了数值计算研究.模型中考虑了氮气中主要的电离、激发过程，所包含的粒子种类为e，N₂，N⁺₂，N⁺₄，N₂(a¹∑^-_u)，N₂(A³∑⁺_u).模拟结果显示，氮中的放电具有低气压下汤生放电的特性.放电电流幅度较小，放电过程中气体电压变化缓慢，电子密度远低于离子密度，而且最大值出现在阳极，电子不能在放电间隙中被俘获，不存在中性等离子体区，气体中的电场趋于线性变化.亚稳态N₂(A³∑⁺_u)和N₂(a¹∑⁺_u)在整个放电空间都具有非常高的密度，比电子密度高三个量级以上，亚稳态密度的最大值出现在阳极，这样的分布决定了放电的空间结构.放电所需的种子电子主要由亚稳态之间潘宁电离提供，这种机理使放电的电离水平较低，导致氮气中的放电只能是汤生放电.随着放电参数的变化，多电流峰放电也可在氮气中获得. 关键词： 大气压均匀放电 介质阻挡放电 数值模拟 氮气     

Approximation of the electron excitation cross sections for triplet states excited from the 23 S 1 metastable state in helium

The method of approximated four-parameter representation of the electron-impact cross sections for a helium atom excited from the 2³ S ₁ metastable state into higher triplet states is applied and discussed. The approximation consists in interpolation over the whole set of the cross section values for each helium atomic level measured in our experiments and reported by other researchers. The approximation parameters and the cross sections calculated using these parameters for the maxima of the corresponding excitation functions are presented for 19 triplet levels of the S, P, and D HeI series with n=2–10. The interpolated values are compared to the theoretical cross sections. The serial regularities were investigated for the S, P, and D levels studied and a decrease in the cross sections for excitation from the given metastable state within each series, described by the approximate law Q=Cn ^?5, was revealed. Validity of the similarity relationship and the Bethe approximation for cross sections in the 2³ S?n ³ P series was verified. It is shown that the cross sections for a triplet level excitation from the 2³ S ₁ metastable state exceed the corresponding values for excitation from the ground state of helium by a factor of approximately 10³ for n=2 and 3 and 10 2 for the higher levels. It is concluded that the proposed method of representation of the cross sections for the electron-impact excitation of triplet levels from the metastable state increases accuracy and more importantly, reliability of the final results.     

Electron spectroscopy using excited atoms and photons IX. Penning ionization of CO2, CS2, COS,N2O,H2S,SO2, and NO2

The electron spectra resulting from thermal collisions of He* (predominantly 2³S) metastable atoms with the seven triatomic molecules, CO₂, COS, CS², N₂O H₂S, SO₂ and NO₂, are compared with their respective 584-Å photoelectron spectra using a transmission-corrected electron spectrometer. The normalised relative electronic-state transition probabilities for production of ionic states in Penning ionization and photoionization are reported together with energy shifts (ΔE values) for He*(2³S) Penning ionization. The cross-section for Penning ionization to lower states of NO₂⁺ is extremely low as has been observed in other open shell molecules such as NO and O₂.     

Optical emission spectroscopy of Ar-N2 mixture plasma

Optical emission spectroscopy measurements are presented to characterize the different excitation and ionization processes of both atomic and molecular species in Ar-N₂ mixture plasma under different discharge conditions. Particularly, the emission intensities of nitrogen (0-0) band of second positive system at 337.1 nm and (0-0) band of first negative systems at 391.4 nm are used to determine the dependence of their radiative states on argon fraction in the mixture. It is observed that the addition of argon gas influences the radiative states differently due to their different populating mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the addition of argon to nitrogen plasma remarkably enhance the population of N₂(C³Π_u) radiative state through Penning excitation involving argon metastable states. The electron temperature is determined from Ar-I spectral line intensities, using Boltzmann's plot method and is found to depend on argon fraction in the mixture.     

Electron spectroscopy of surfaces by impact of metastable He atoms: CO on Pd(110)

Deexcitation of metastable He1 2¹S (excitation energy E1 = 20.6 eV) or 2³S (E* =19.8 eV) atoms at a clean Pd(110) surface proceeds through a two-stage process (resonance ionization + Auger neutralization, RI + AN). The measured electron energy distribution reflects the self-convolution of the local density of states of the outmost atomic layer. A CO adlayer suppresses the RI step and the spectra are caused by Auger deexcitation (Penning ionization). Comparison with corresponding UPS data allows identification of the valence orbitals of the adsorbate. Emission up to the Fermi level is ascribed to contributions from the 5σ level. The effectively available excitation energy in front of the adlayer is lowered by 0.5 eV. Extensive data on the variation of the intensities from the adsorbate valence levels with angle of incidence as well as of emission are presented and are analyzed in terms of an empirical model.     

Excitation of resonance lines of a Zn+ ion by electron impact

Excitation of individual components of the resonance 4p ² P ₁ ^2,3/2/0 doublet of a Zn⁺ ion by electron impact is studied for the first time by the spectroscopic method in crossed beams. A distinct structure (above the ionization potential of an ion as well) found in the energy dependences of the effective excitation cross section is associated mainly with the decay to the resonance levels (direct or cascade) of autoionization states of zinc atoms and ions formed through the excitation of electrons from the subvalence 3d ¹⁰ shell. The results obtained are compared with data of other experiments and theoretical calculations by the method of strong coupling of five and fifteen states, as well as with the semiempirical calculation using the Van Regemorter formula.     

Study of the relaxation of metastable 6p 3 2 D 3 2/0 states of bismuth atoms in a bismuth-vapor laser

A universal absorption technique for studying the kinetics of relaxation of atomic states in the afterglow of a repetitively pulsed discharge in metal vapor lasers is proposed. It uses the measurement of the absorption of narrowband emission of a tunable dye laser and numerical simulation of absorption. The relaxation of metastable 6p ^{3 2} D ₃ ^2/0 states of Bi atoms in the afterglow of a 472.2-nm bismuth vapor laser was studied. The prepulse values of the concentration of metastable atoms n _m were not higher than 10¹¹ cm^?3 and did not impede the improvement of laser characteristics. The afterpulse values of n ^m were ～10¹³ cm^{? 3}.     

Interaction of trapped metastable excited He atoms with solid noble gases,Ne, Ar and Kr,investigated by EPR

Local metastable excited states are found in Ne, Ar and Kr cryocrystals as He gas-discharge products are trapped in the growing cryocrystals. These states are detected by EPR and are interpreted as being local metastable excitednp⁵(n+1)s³P₂ atomic-type states in Ne, Ar and Kr cryocrystals. Analysis of the results allows the following explanation of the observed effect to be given. For the Ne cryocrystal the effect is interpreted as a new phenomenon: quasi-resonance transfer of excitation energy from the metastable He 2³S₁ atom trapped in a growing neon cryocrystal to the exciton energy band of the neon crystal followed by the exciton self-trapping into the 2p⁵3p state and subsequent decay, ending in the 2p⁵3s³P₂ state recorded by EPR in our experiment. In the case of Ar and Kr cryocrystals the effect is explained as being due to an internal ionization of the cryocrystals by the excitation energy of trapped metastable He atoms, which implies the formation in the cryocrytal of a Rg⁺ ion and a free electron in the conduction band, whereupon the fast (of 10^?12 s) self-trapping reaction of a hole follows: Rg⁺+Rg→Rg ₂ ⁺ . Thereafter the dissociative recombination reaction Rg ₂ ⁺ +e→Rg ₂ ^** →Rg+Rg*(³P₂) could take place.     

Resonances at slow electron collisions with zinc atoms and ions

The optical excitation functions of four spectral lines corresponding to the transitions from the 4¹ D ₂, 5³ S ₁, 4³ D _j, and 6¹ S ₀ levels of atomic Zn were investigated with an electron spectrometer of a new construction. For the first time, elastic scattering of slow electrons from the Zn ions at an angle close to 180° was studied. In the energy range under investigation (0–7 eV), both the optical excitation functions of atomic spectral lines and the differential cross section of elastic scattering manifested the resonant structure caused by the contribution of autoionization states of the atom.     

Autoionization cross section of potassium atom excited by electron impact

The autoionization cross section of potassium atoms excited by electron impact is measured in the energy range from the first autoionization threshold at 18.72 eV to 202 eV. The data are obtained by deter-mining the total intensity of electron spectra resulting from the decay of the 3p ⁵ n ₁ l ₁ n ₂ l ₂ autoionizing states. The cross section has two maxima, 1.8 × 10^?16 and 2.2 × 10^?16 cm², at 21 and 32 eV, respectively. The excitation dynamics of autoionization states suggests that the first maximum is associated with the resonance character of the near-threshold excitation. The second maximum, as well as the behavior of the cross section at energies above 50 eV, reflects the dynamics of electron excitation of quartet and doublet autoionizing states. The measured autoionization cross section is compared with known data for the total single ionization cross section of potassium atom by electron impact. The relative contribution of the autoionization cross section to the total single ionization cross section is found to reach 30% at 32 eV.     

Effect of electrons of the multiply charged ion core on single-electron capture

The population of various electronic states of particles that arise during the capture of a single electron in hydrogen and helium atoms, as well as hydrogen molecules, by Ar³⁺ and Ne³⁺ ions with an energy of several kiloelectronvolts was studied by collision spectroscopy, viz., precision analysis of kinetic energy variation for ions formed as a result of interaction between ions and atoms. It is shown that single-electron capture in many cases is a multielectron process accompanied by the rearrangement of a multiply charged ion core. It is found that the triply charged Ne³⁺ ions formed as a result of ionization of Ne atoms by electron impacts are formed mainly in metastable states. The population of excited states of particles during their multiple ionization should be taken into account in determining the characteristics of various particles by the appearance potential method. Collision spectroscopy can be used for analyzing the metastable ion impurities in ionic beams.     

Excitation transfer into bound and continuum states investigated by optical and electron spectroscopy

We present energy spectra of electrons formed in the reaction of He(2³ S, 2¹ S) with NO₂ which have significantly improved counting statistics and resolution compared to earlier work. Further, we show spectra of the fluorescence light emitted in these reactions. The data are recorded in the same molecular beam apparatus as the electron spectra. For the metastable singlet state He(2¹ S) the spectra have not been measured before. We find that in addition to ionization excitation transfer takes place into Rydberg states of NO₂**. Subsequently, the highly excited NO₂** molecules dissociate into NO and atomic O* Rydberg atoms.     

Lifetime measurement of the (5d6p)3D3 state of barium by dye-laser spectroscopy

We have measured the radiative lifetime of the (5d6p)³D₃ state of barium by Hanle effect. This state was populated by cw dye laser excitation of an atomic beam of Ba in the metastable (5d6s)³D₃ state. The metastable state was populated by a dc discharge. With dye laser excitation, the shape of the Hanle effect curve is strongly modified due to optical pumping of the metastable state. A brief discussion of the expected and observed signal shapes is given. The radiative lifetime of the (5d6p)³D₃ state is measured to be τ = 10.2 ± 1.5 ns.