Oscillator strength measurements of the 3p ↦ nd Rydberg transitions of sodium

We report new measurements of the oscillator strengths of the 3p ²P_3/2 ↦nd ²D_{5/2, 3/2} and 3p ²P_1/2 ↦ nd ²D_3/2 Rydberg transitions of sodium using a thermionic diode ion detector in conjunction with the Nd:YAG pumped dye lasers. The ns ²S_1/2 and nd ²D_5/2,3/2 Rydberg series have been recorded via two-step excitation, from the 3p ²P_3/2 and 3p ²P_1/2 intermediate states. Employing the saturation technique, the photoionization cross sections from the 3p ²P_3/2 and 3p ²P_1/2 intermediate states at the first ionization threshold are determined as 7.9(1.3) Mb and 6.7(1.1) Mb respectively. The f-values of the Rydberg transitions are calibrated with the photoionization cross section measured at the first ionization threshold and compared with the earlier data.     

Measurements of photoionization cross sections from the 4p, 5d and 7s excited states of potassium

New measurements of the photoionization cross sections from the 4p ²P_1/2,3/2, 5d ²D_5/2,3/2 and 7s ²S_1/2 excited states of potassium are presented. The cross sections have been measured by two-step excitation and ionization using a Nd:YAG laser in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. By applying the saturation technique, the absolute values of the cross sections from the 4p ²P_3/2 and 4p ²P_1/2 states at 355 nm are determined as 7.2±1.1 and 5.6±0.8 Mb, respectively. The photoionization cross section from the 5d ²D_5/2,3/2 excited state has been measured using two excitation paths, two-step excitation and two-photon excitation from the ground state. The measured values of the cross sections from the 5d ²D_5/2 state by two-photon excitation from the ground state is 28.9±4.3 Mb, whereas in the two-step excitation, the cross section from the 5d ²D_3/2 state via the 4p ²P_1/2 state and from the 5d ²D_5/2,3/2 states via the 4p ²P_3/2 state are determined as 25.1±3.8 and 30.2±4.5 Mb, respectively. Besides, we have measured the photoionization cross sections from the 7s ²S_1/2 excited state using the two-photon excitation from the ground state as 0.61±0.09 Mb.     

Photoionization cross sections and oscillator strengths of neutral cesium

The absolute photoionization cross sections from the 6p ²P_1/2 excited state of cesium at threshold and above the threshold region have been measured using the saturation absorption technique. The photoionization cross section at the ionization threshold is determined as 22.6±3.6 Mb, whereas in the region above threshold its value ranges from 22 to 20 Mb for photoelectron energies up to 0.1 eV. A comparison of the photoionization cross sections with earlier reported theoretical and experimental data have been presented and are in good agreement within the uncertainty. In addition, the oscillator strengths of the 6p ²P_1/2→n d ²D_3/2 (21≤n≤60) Rydberg transitions of cesium have been calibrated using the threshold value of the photoionization cross section. A complete picture of the oscillator strengths from the present work and previously reported data from n=5–60 is presented.     

Photoionization cross-section measurements from the 2p, 3d and 3s excited states of lithium

The photoionization cross-sections from the 2p²P_{1/2, 3/2}, 3d²D_{3/2, 5/2} and 3s²S_1/2 excited states of lithium have been measured at different ionizing laser wavelengths, above the first ionization threshold. The experiments are performed by using a thermionic diode working in the space charge limited mode and the cross-sections are measured by employing the saturation technique. By changing the ionization photon energy, a smooth frequency dependence of the cross-sections has been observed for the 2p and 3d states. The cross-section from the 3s excited state has been measured at a single photon energy. The measured values of the photoionization cross are compared with the available data.     

Alternate technique for simultaneous measurement of photoionization cross-section of isotopes by TOF mass spectrometer

New measurements of photoionization cross-sections of the lithium isotopes are reported employing a Time of Flight (TOF) mass spectrometer in conjunction with an atomic beam apparatus. Using a two-step selective photoionization and saturation technique, we have simultaneously measured the photoionization cross-section of the 2p excited state of both the isotopes Li⁶ and Li⁷ as 15±2.5 Mb and 18 ±2.5 Mb where as the corresponding number densities have been determined as N₀≈5.3×10¹⁰ atoms/cm³ and N₀≈6.2×10¹¹ atoms/cm³ respectively.     

Odd autoionizing 2p<Subscript>1/2</Subscript><Superscript>5</Superscript>n(s<Superscript>′</Superscript>/d<Superscript>′</Superscript>) resonances of Ne excited from the 2p<Superscript>5</Superscript>3p[K]<Subscript>J</Subscript> states

Absolute photoionization cross sections for Ne atoms in the excited levels (Paschen notation ) were calculated at near threshold energies within the configuration interaction Pauli-Fock approach including core polarization. The computed spectra and the lineshape parameters of the odd parity 2p_1/2 ⁵ns^′/d^′ autoionizing resonances are found to be in good agreement with high resolution laser spectroscopic results. Guided by the theoretical results, improved analyses of the measured spectra by superimposed Fano-type profiles were achieved. Theoretical predictions are presented for resonances which have not yet been studied experimentally. In addition, we report the absolute partial photoionization cross sections for the ²P_3/2 and ²P_1/2 channel at photoelectron energies up to 7 eV. Except for the highest lying 2p₁(¹S₀) level, these cross sections monotonically decrease with energy (as reported earlier in single-electron calculations for the Ne(2p⁵3p) configuration) with branching ratios which essentially reflect the core composition of the 2p_x levels. For the 2p₁ level the resonance structure and the partial cross sections are strongly influenced by a Cooper-Seaton minimum in the d_3/2 ^′ channel,located just above the ²P_1/2 ionization limit.     

Photoionization cross sections of Fe XXI

Total and partial photoionization cross sections for (Fe XXI+hν→Fe XXII+e) are presented for the ground and excited bound states with n?10 and l?9. Fe XXI is prevalent in high-temperature astrophysical plasmas as well as in photoionized plasmas excited by hard X-rays. Results are reported for the first time for the high-energy photoionization with core excitations to n=2,3 states. Details of photoionization, especially the high-energy features that often dominate considerably over the low energy ones, are illustrated. These prominent features will affect the photoionization and the recombination rates in high-temperature plasmas. Calculations are carried out in the close coupling (CC) approximation using the R-matrix method. A large CC wavefunction expansion for Fe XXII which includes the ground and 28 excited core states from n=2 and 3 complexes and spans over a wide energy range is used. A total of 835 discrete bound states of Fe XXI in the singlet, triplet, and quintet symmetries are obtained. Total photoionization cross sections, σ_PI(nLS), for ionization into all 29 states are presented for all 835 final bound states and partial photoionization cross sections, σ_PI(g,nLS), for ionization into the ground ²P⁰ state of the core are presented for 685 states. While the n=2 core excitations are at relatively lower energy range (within 15 Ry from the ionization threshold), the n=3 excitations lie at considerably higher energy, 73 Ry and above, yet introduce resonant features and enhancements more prominent than those of n=2 states. Larger numbers of resonances are formed due to Rydberg series of autoionizing states converging on to the 29 core states. However, most noticeable structures are formed in the excited state cross sections by the photoexcitation-of-core (PEC) resonances in the photon energy range of 73-82 Ry. All these high-energy features are absent in the currently available results. The present results should enable more accurate modeling of the emission spectrum of highly excited plasma from the optical to far-ultraviolet region.     

Two-step laser excitation of the highly excited even-parity states of atomic mercury

We report term energies and quantum defects of highly excited even-parity states of mercury in the 83 876–84 140 cm^-1 energy range, employing a two-step laser excitation scheme via the S₀↦6s6p³P₁ inter-combination transition. Two dye lasers, pumped by a common Nd:YAG laser, were frequency doubled by BBO crystals and used to record the spectra in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. Our new observations include the much extended D₂ (22 ≤n ≤52) series and a few members of the S₁ (24 ≤n ≤30) Rydberg series. Members of the D₂ Rydberg series with such a high n value are reported for the first time. The relative intensities of the D₂ and S₁ transitions (m = 4, 5 and 6) of group II-B elements excited from the P₁ inter-combination states are also discussed.     

Photoionization of the excited He atom in Debye plasmas

We present theoretical photoionization cross sections for He 1s2s ¹S and He 1s2p ¹P states in a Debye plasma environment by the complex coordinate rotation method, using a finite L² basis set constructed from one electron Laguerre orbitals. The plasma environment is found to appreciably influence the photoionization cross sections near the ionization threshold. In this regard, the photoionization cross sections of isolated He are compared with other theoretical and experimental results. Our results are in good agreement with the previous results. A new minimum appears in the photoionization cross section curve for the metastable 1s2s ¹S state. Results are given for the S- and D-wave partial photoionization for the excited 1s2p ¹P state.     

Measurement of Photoionization Cross Sections of the Excited States of Titanium

实验研究了钛原子在293～321 nm波段的共振增强多光子电离. 采用激光烧蚀和超声射流相结合的实验技术来制备自由原子,由飞行时间质谱仪实现对钛原子光电离产物的检测. 从离子信号强度对和激光强度的依赖关系导出了钛原子价电子激发态的光电离截面. 实验测量的一些激发态光电离截面在0.2～6.0 Mb. 通过对⁴⁶Ti、⁴⁷Ti、⁴⁸Ti的光电离截面测量研究,没有发现明显的同位素依赖性.     

Relativistic R-matrix close-coupling calculations for photoionization of Ne-like Al IV

We present relativistic close-coupling photoionization calculations of Al IV using the Breit-Pauli R-matrix method to obtain photoionization cross-section of Al IV from the ground state and the lowest two J=0 (even) excited states. A multi-configuration eigenfunctions expansion of the core Al V is employed with spectroscopic configurations 2s²2p⁵, 2s2p⁶, 2s²2p⁴3s, 2s²2p⁴3p, 2s²2p⁴3d and 2s²2p⁴4s. We have included, for the first time, the lowest 68 level target states of Al V in the photoionization calculations of Al IV. Extensive configuration interaction wavefunctions are used to describe both the initial Al IV states and the final Al V states. Cross-sections are compared from three level calculations including only 2s² 2p^{5 2}P^o _3/2, _1/2 and 2s 2p^{6 2}S_1/2 levels of Al V. The present calculation using the lowest 68 target levels of Al V are presented for the first time and should provide reasonably complete database for practical application for photoionization cross-section for Al IV, where high-energy cross-sections along with near-threshold photoionization cross-section is required.     

Line shape parameters study of the 6p7p (<Superscript>1</Superscript>P<Subscript>1</Subscript>, <Superscript>3</Superscript>D<Subscript>1</Subscript> and <Superscript>3</Superscript>P<Subscript>1</Subscript>): Autoionizing resonances in barium

We report a systematic line shape analysis study of the 6p7p configuration based ¹P₁, ³D₁ and ³P₁ autoionizing resonances in barium using a Nd:YAG pumped dye laser system in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. The even parity isolated autoionizing resonances have been approached via four intermediate states 6 snp ¹P₁ (6 ≤n ≤8) and 5d6p ¹P₁. A comparison of the Fano parameters of the resonance profiles reveals that the width of an autoionizing resonance is independent of the excitation path while the line profile parameter changes with the selection of different intermediate states.     

Near-threshold photoionization from the excited mp<Superscript>5</Superscript>(m + 1)p J = 0−3 levels of Ar,Kr and Xe (m = 3−5)

Using the configuration interaction Pauli-Fock including core polarization (CIPFCP) approach we have calculated absolute total and partial cross sections for photoionization of excited mp ⁵(m + 1)p J = 0−3 levels in Ar, Kr and Xe (m = 3−5) near threshold. Particular emphasis is paid to the lineshapes of the odd mp _1/2⁵ n(s/d)′ autoionizing resonances and their variation with the character of the intermediate excited J = 0−3 state. For selected intermediate levels of Ar and Kr the computed cross sections are compared with laser spectroscopic measurements; good agreement between the theoretical and experimental lineshapes and branching ratios for different resonances is observed.     

Experimental study of autoionizing states of AuI

This paper describes the investigation of the autoionizing states of AuI by exciting the states of 6d ² D _3/2 and 6d D _5/2 with tunable dye lasers by means of a resonance ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RI-TOFMS). Many new autoionizing states were found, a few of which have narrow-linewidths of about 0.1 cm^–1. The photoionization efficiencies for different channels were compared. Among the autoionizing states found so far, the highest photoionization yield is given by two newly obtained states from the state 6d ² D _5/2, 3683.6 cm^–1 and 4636.5 cm^–1 above the first ionization limit. In addition, the Shore-Fano profile parameters of several autoionizing resonances were determined by a nonlinear fitting program.     

Femtosecond laser pulse train effect on Doppler profile of cesium resonance lines

We present direct observation of the velocity-selective optical pumping of the Cs ground state hyperfine levels induced by the femtosecond (fs) laser oscillator centered at either D2 (6 ²S_1/2↦6 ²P_3/2, 852 nm) or D1 (6 P_1/2, 894 nm) cesium line. We utilized previously developed modified direct frequency comb spectroscopy (DFCS) which uses a fixed frequency comb for the excitation and a weak cw scanning probe laser centered at the ¹³³Cs 6 ²S_1/2↦6 ²P_3/2 transition (D2 line) for ground levels population monitoring. The frequency comb excitation changes the usual Doppler absorption profile into a specific periodic, comblike structure. The mechanism of the velocity selective population transfer between the Cs ground state hyperfine levels induced by fs pulse train excitation is verified in a theoretical treatment of the multilevel atomic system subjected to a pulse train resonant field interaction.     

Ionization of ytterbium atoms from an excited state

The cross sections of the photoionization and the electron impact-induced ionization of Yb atoms from the excited 6s6p(³ P ₁) state are numerically calculated. Matrix elements are computed in multielectron relativistic and nonrelativistic approximations with allowance for the superposition of configurations and a relaxation effect. The radial part of the electron wavefunction in a continuous spectrum is calculated using the solutions to one-configuration Hartree-Fock and Dirac-Fock equations. The cross sections calculated by a relativistic method are compared to those for a nonrelativistic approximation. The ratios of the radiation reduced matrix elements and the phase shifts of the wavefunctions of a continuous spectrum calculated for the 6p ɛs and 6p → ɛd transitions are compared to the values obtained by approximating the experimental dependences of the angular distribution of photoelectrons for the photoionization by ultraviolet radiation from an oriented excited state.     

One-photon two-electron transitions for metastable helium

We have obtained very accurate excitation energies for helium corresponding to the transitions 2p^{2 3}P^e ↦nln’l’ ³D^o using highly correlated Hylleraas-type wave functions. The doubly excited 2p^{2 3}P^e metastable bound state energy is obtained using Ritz variational principle. The upper bound of 2p^{2 3}P^e energy is –0.7105001556783 a.u., which is close to the best results –0.71050015567833 [R. Hilger et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 262, 400 (1996)]. We employ complex-coordinate rotation method to obtain ³D^o resonances. The ³D^o resonance energies and widths along with one-photon two-electron transition energies are reported.     

Thermal photoionization in resonance ionization spectroscopy

In Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy, neutral atoms are usually produced by thermal effects, using an oven or a hot surface at high temperature. The radiation from these thermal sources is intense enough to effectively contribute to the photoionization of atoms excited by laser pumping. We show that, for the most common experimental conditions, the ratio of thermal to laser photoionization can be higher than one for excited levels which lie as far as a few thousand cm^–1 below the ionization threshold. This result is obtained with the use of the analytic expression for the photoionization cross-section of a hydrogen-like atom. We suggest two applications of this thermal photoionization. Namely, the study of highly excited states and Quasi Resonance Ionization Spectrometry, using only one laser of low radiance.Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Fontenay-aux-Roses DERDCA/DCAEA/SEA, BP no 6, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France (Visiting scientist at Ecole Polytechnique from Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique)Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay, IRF/DPHG/PAS. Bât 462, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France     

Blackbody radiation shift of the Al<Superscript>+</Superscript> clock transition

The blackbody radiation shift of the Al⁺ 3s^{2 1}S^e ₀ ↦ 3s3p ³P^○ ₀ clock transition is evaluated. The polarizabilities of the two states are determined by means of configuration interaction calculations in conjunction with oscillator strength sum rules. The ground state polarizability was 24.14 ±0.12 a.u. while the metastable state polarizability was 24.62 ±0.25 a.u. The derived frequency shift at 300 K was Δν= -0.0042 ±0.0032 Hz. Some auxiliary sum rules are evaluated that allow for the conversion of a finite frequency polarizability difference to a static polarizability difference.     

Measurement of the photoionization cross-section of the 3p 2P1/2, 3/2 excited levels of sodium

The photoionization cross-section and number density of the 3p ²P_1/2,3/2 excited levels of sodium have been measured as a function of the laser energy using two-step laser excitation in conjunction with a thermionic diode working in the space charge limited mode. Employing the saturation technique, the cross-sections for the 3p ²P_1/2 and 3p ²P_3/2 levels are determined as 2.16 (43) Mb and 3.74 (74) Mb respectively.