Step-wise laser excitation of the 4snf 3F Rydberg states of neutral zinc

The new experimental results on the effective quantum numbers and term energies of the highly excited odd-parity 4s4d ³D_1,2,3 →4snf ³F_2,3,4 Rydberg transitions of zinc have been presented. The experiment was performed using the three dye lasers simultaneously pumped by the second harmonic (532?nm) of the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The new observation includes the 4snf ³F₃ (12?≤n?≤?50) series excited from the 4s4d ³D₂ intermediate level. In addition, the 4snf ³F₂ (12?≤n?≤?28) and 4snf³F₄ (12?≤n?≤?33) series are observed from the thermally populated 4s4d ³D_1,3 fine structure components. The ionization potential of zinc has been determined from the unperturbed 4snf ³F₃ series as 75769.31?±?0.15?cm^?1, which is in excellent agreement with the previously reported value.