Rovibronic structure in the electron energy spectrum for associative ionization: Ne(3 P 2), Ar(3 P 2)+H

Associative ionization in thermal energy (300 K) collisions between Ne(2p ⁵ 3s ³P₂), Ar(3p ⁵ 4s ³ P ₂) metastable atoms and hydrogen atomsH(1s ² S _1/2) has been studied by high resolution (20 meV) electron spectrometry. The spectra exhibit structure due to the formation of different vibrational states in the molecular ion and show superimposed rotational structure. Direct information is obtained on the relative population of the rovibronic states and on their energy positions. The well depth of the ionic potential curves has been determined as:D _e (NeH ⁺ X ¹ Σ ⁺)=2.27 (3) eV,D _e (ArH ⁺ X ¹ Σ ⁺)=4.02(3) eV.     

Ionization of hydrogen and deuterium atoms in thermal energy collisions with state-selected Ne(3s 3 P 2,3 P 0) metastable atoms

High resolution energy spectra of electrons and ions resulting from thermal energy collisions of hydrogen and deuterium atoms with state-selected metastable Ne(Ne(3s ³ P ₂,³ P ₀) atoms are reported. The electron spectra for Ne(³ P ₂)+H(D) are very broad: The high energy part due to formation of NeH⁺ (NeD⁺) bound states (associative ionization), amounts to about 30% of the ionizing events, whereas the dominant part of the spectrum including a prominent low-energy peak is due to Penning ionization out of a strongly-attractive entrance potential curve. Comparison of the spectra with quantum mechanical fit calculations yields fairly accurate information on this potential, in particular its well depthD _e [Ne(³ P ₂)?H,D]= 2.0(1) eV. The spectra for Ne(³ P ₀)+H, D are comparatively narrow with much lower cross sections than the one for the Ne(³ P ₂) state. The corresponding entrance channel is a weakly bound van der Waals molecule with a well depth below 0.1 eV. A perturbation calculation of the Ne(3s)+H(1s) potential energy curves at large distances explains the observed difference between the Ne(³ P ₂)+H(D) and Ne(³ P ₀)+H(D) systems. Symmetry arguments are given that the major contribution to the Ne(³ P ₂)+H(D) spectra is due to the² Σ potential.     

Autoionization cross section of lithium atoms excited by electron impact

We measure the full autoionization cross section of lithium atoms excited by electrons in the energy range from the first autoionization threshold at 56.39 to 600 eV. Data are obtained by determining the total intensity of electron spectrum of autoionization states 1sn ₁ l ₁ n ₂ l ₂ detected at the “magic” observation angle of 54.7°. The cross section behavior is characterized by a sharp increase to a maximum value of 1.7 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm² in the energy interval of 56.4–60 eV and a subsequent monotonic drop to a value of 10⁻¹⁸ cm² at 600 eV. We have discovered a “thin” cross section structure that reflects the presence of strong resonances of Li⁻ ions in the near-threshold area of excitation of the lowest energy autoionization states (1s2s2)2S, (1s2s2p)⁴ P, 1s(2s2p ³ P)² P), and 1s(2s2p ¹ P)² P. We have established that the contribution of autoionization to the absolute cross section of single ionization of lithium atoms does not exceed 4%. We perform a comparative analysis of the data with analogous data for potassium and cesium atoms.     

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.     

Radiative transitions in the system of autoionizing levels of cesium atoms excited by electron impact

We study the energy dependences of electron excitation cross sections of the autoionizing levels (5p ⁵6s ²)² P _3/2 and (5p ⁵5d(³ P)6s)² P _3/2, as well as the autoionization cross sections of cesium atoms in the impact energy range from the excitation threshold to 600 eV. It is established that an increase in the excitation cross section of the ² P _3/2 levels (to 60% of the maximum value) and the deep minimum in the autoionization cross section observed in the energy region of 17–27 eV are caused by the predominance of the radiative decay channel for autoionizing levels with excitation thresholds above 17 eV. The high efficiency of the process is mainly related to the resonance excitation of these levels in the near-threshold energy region.     

Übertragung von Polarisation bei sensibilisierenden Stößen angeregter Natriumatome

The transfer of magnetic polarization from state 3p ² p _1/2 to state 3p ² p _3/2 sensitizing collisions of sodium atoms with noble gas atoms has been observed. Sodium atoms were excited by absorption ofD ₁σ⁺-quanta. When buffer gas was added to the sodium vapour, unequal amounts ofD ₂σ⁺ andD ₂σ^? quanta could be detected in the fluorescent light. The difference of the amounts turned out to be proportional to the polarization transferred. The measurement of this difference as a function of the buffer gas pressure provided a method of determining the cross-sections of the polarization transfer. Values of the cross-sections are 22, 24, 26, 20, 23 Ų for the buffer gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, respectively. A preliminary investigation shows that the sign of the polarization transferred is reversed when the vapour is exposed to a strong magnetic field acting along the incident light beam.     

钪原子的自电离里德伯能级3d4s(1D2)nf2 D3/2,3d4s(1D2)nf2 F5/2和3d4s(1D2)np2 D3/2<

在多通道量子亏损理论框架下,利用相对论多通道理论,分别在冻结实近似和考虑偶极极化下计算钪原子的J^π=(3/2)^-,(5/2)^-的三个收敛于 3d4s(¹D₂)的自电离里德伯系列的能级.对3d4s(¹D₂)np²D_3/2和3d4s(^{1 关键词： 相对论多通道理论 多通道量子亏损理论 电子-电子关联 自电离里德伯系列}     

Excitation of vacuum UV transitions of alkali-metal atoms by charge-exchange reactions

We investigate the vacuum UV radiation spectra of atoms and ions of Rb, Cs, He, Ne, and Ar in a discharge plasma of their mixtures at different concentration of metal vapors in rare gases. The reactions leading to population and deactivation of resonant states of rare-gas atoms were studied. The observation of lines 109.1, 119.6, and 124.7 nm, corresponding to the radiation transitions from the 5p ⁵5d6s ⁴ P _5/2 quasi-metastable autoionizing level of cesium, allowed us to estimate experimentally the cross section σ=(9±3) · 10^?15 cm² of the charge-exchange reaction of the metastable cesium ion on the cesium atom, giving as a result the above-mentioned quasi-metastable state of cesium.     

Dissociative multiple photoionization of Br2, IBr,and I2 in the VUV and X-ray regions: a comparative study of the inner-shell processes involving Br(3d,3p,3s) and I(4d,4p,4s,3d,3p)

Dissociative multiple photoionization of the bromine, the iodine monobromide, and the iodine molecules in the Br(3d,3p,3s) and I(4d,4p,4s,3d,3p) inner-shell regions has been studied by using time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry coupled to synchrotron radiation in the ranges of 90∼978 eV for Br₂, 60∼133 eV for IBr, and 86∼998 eV for I₂. Total photoion and photoion–photoion coincidence (PIPICO) yields have been recorded as functions of the photon energy. Here, giant shape resonances have been observed beyond the thresholds of the inner-shells owing to the Br(3d¹⁰)→Br(3d⁹ϵf), I(4d¹⁰)→I(4d⁹ϵf), and I(3d¹⁰)→I(3d⁹ϵf) transitions. The dissociation processes of the multiply charged parent ions have also been evaluated from variations of photoelectron–photoion coincidence (PEPICO) and PIPICO spectra with the photon energy. From each Br(3p_3/2) (189.9 eV) and I(4p_3/2) threshold (129.9 eV), quintuple ionization of the molecules begins to play important roles in the photoionization, subsequently yielding ion pairs of X³⁺–X²⁺ (X=Br, I). From the I(3d_5/2) threshold (627.3 eV), loss of six electrons from iodine molecule additionally begins to play a minor role in the multiple photoionization, giving rise to the formation of ion pairs of either I³⁺–I³⁺ or I⁴⁺–I²⁺. A direct comparison of the strengths and the ranges of the I(4d) and Br(3d) giant resonances was successfully made from dissociative photoionization of IBr. Over the entire energy range examined, 60<E<133 eV, biased charge spread relevant to the specific core-hole states of IBr is observed, presumably reflecting the fact that charge localizes mostly in the excited atoms, which can be accounted for mainly by a two step decay via a fast dissociation followed by autoionization upon the VUV absorption.     

Collisional relaxation of ionic2 P 3/2 excited states in rare gases

Optical pumping with theD ₂ line is used to study the depolarization of the first excited² P _3/2 states of alkaline earth ions and Yb⁺ ions in collisions with rare gas atoms. The deorientation cross sections for the even isotopes of Ba⁺ and Yb⁺ ions are obtained (in units of 10^?16 cm²): rare gas He Ne Ar Kr Xeσ ₁ (Ba⁺ 6p ² P _3/2) 79(11) 89(13) 123(18) 152(22) 204(30)σ ₁ (Yb⁺ 6p ² P _3/2) 60(10) 62(9) 107(18) 133(17) 167(37) The cross sections are discussed in comparison with theoretical calculations and those of isoelectronic atoms. The comparison of the² P _3/2 relaxation of even and odd (I=3/2) isotopes of Ba⁺ allows to draw conclusions on the nature of the depolarization interaction.     

Direct measurement of the transfer rate pμ+Ar → p+Arμ at high gas pressure

The transfer rate pμ + Ar → p + Arμ has been directly measured in H₂ gas of 600 atm with 2.03 × 10^3&#x0304; at. % Ar at room temperature using delayed coincidence techniques. The transfer rate reduced to an Ar concentration (atoms per unit volume) corresponding to that of liquid hydrogen was found to be (9.8 ± 1.5) × 10¹¹s^?1, which is considerably higher than previous results obtained at lower pressure.     

Pionic deuterium

The strong-interaction shift ε _1s ^πD and broadening Γ _1s ^πD in pionic deuterium have been determined in a high statistics study of the πD(3p-1s) X-ray transition using a high-resolution crystal spectrometer. The pionic deuterium shift will provide constraints for the pion-nucleon isospin scattering lengths extracted from measurements of shift and broadening in pionic hydrogen. The hadronic broadening is related to pion absorption and production at threshold. The results are ε _1s ^πD = (?2356 ± 31) meV (repulsive) and Γ _1s ^πD meV yielding for the complex πD scattering length a _πD = [?(24.99±0.33)+i(6.22 _?0.26 ^+0.12 )] × 10^?3 m _π ^?1 . From the imaginary part, the threshold parameter for pion production is obtained to be α = (251 _?11 ⁺⁵ ) μb. This allows, in addition, and by using results from pion absorption in ³He at threshold, the determination of the effective couplings g ₀ and g ₁ for s-wave pion absorption on isoscalar and isovector NN pairs.     

Formation of an alignment in collisions of laser excited sodium with xenon atoms

By photon absorption from a monomode dye-laser beam a spatially ordered velocity distribution (‘atomic beam’) of sodium atoms excited to the 3p ² P _1/2-state, is created. It is predicted theoretically that in collisions of these atoms with atoms of a heavy foreign gas an alignment of the electronic orbital angular momentum is produced. This alignment leads to the appearance of a linear polarization in the sensitizedD ₂-fluorescent light. This polarization is verified experimentally and interpreted in terms of a simplifiedT-operator. It turns out that the scattering distribution for sensitizing collision is of the wide-angle type.     

Diffraction dissociation of neutrons in the reaction dp → pppπ− at 25 GeV/c

We observe the reaction dp → p_spec (pπ^?)p in a bubble chamber exposure at 25 GeV/c incident deuteron momentum. The (pπ^?) system with invariant mass below 2.0 GeV is interpreted as neutron diffraction dissociation. The (pπ^?) mass spectra show little if any direct evidence of N¹ production. The decay angular distributions and the momentum transfer distributions of the (pπ^?) system suggest a smooth increase in contributions from higher partial waves $\text{(J ?}\text{3}\text{2}\text{)}$ with increased mass or momentum transfer. A simple partial-wave analysis shows a P₁₁ contribution below 1.3 GeV for small ?t′ and a dominant D₁₃ contribution elsewhere. Both the P₁₁ and D₁₃ amplitudes peak far below the N¹(1470) and N¹(1520) resonances. We also find evidence for the charge-exchange reaction np → p(pπ^?). In this process the (pπ^?) system shows evidence for Δ^o(1236) and N¹(1520) production.     

Single photon decay of double hole states in atoms

The probability of single-photon decay of highly excited double hole state of atoms is considered. The concrete calculations are performed in the lowest order of perturbation theory in interelectron interaction for states (2s)^-2 in Ne, (2s)^-2 and (2p)^-2 in double ionized Ar?Ar⁺⁺ and (4d)^-2 in Xe.     

Excitation of autoionization resonances in collisions of helium atoms with fast ions

A theoretical model of collisions between fast ions and atoms is proposed which describes the effect of projectiles on the excitation of autoionization resonances. The model takes into account the change in the binding energy of electrons in a target atom induced by the field of a projectile, the effect of the field of the atom on the kinematics of the ion scattering, as well as the effect of the intermediate (1snl)¹ L states on the two-electron excitation mechanism. The charge dependence of the excitation cross section of the (2s ²)¹ S and (2s2p)¹ P resonances is found to be weaker than in the first order of the perturbation theory and is in qualitative agreement with experimental data. The reasons for the emergence of such a charge dependence are analyzed.     

Lifetime of metastable fluorine atoms

For laser collimation of neutral F atoms, a resonance transition cycle between the metastable and the upper excited states (3s⁴ P _5/2?3p⁴ D ⁰ _7/2) can be used as a two-level closed system. We have determined the lifetime of the metastable state (3s⁴ P _5/2) in F atoms by measuring the decay curve of the fluorescence intensity as a function of distance from the plasma source. Combining the measured velocity of F radicals from the Doppler shift of the fluorescence peak, we have obtained the lifetime of the F metastable state as 3.7±0.5 μs. With this short metastable lifetime of F radicals, the simple Doppler cooling method using spontaneous light force is not practical for laser collimation of F radicals. Use of stimulated light force may be necessary to collimate F radical beams in a short distance. Received: 4 July 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000     

Many-electron character of Rydberg series converging to the ionization thresholds of the 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>4</Superscript>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> states of KrII

The photoionization cross sections of the 4p shell and the 4s main level and 4p ⁴(³ P) 5s ⁴ P _{5/2, 3/2} satellite subvalence levels of KrII have been calculated in the 4s-near-threshold range of excitation energies from 28.48 to 28.70 eV. The calculation takes into account the core relaxation by the methods of the theory of non-orthogonal orbitals, the interaction between resonant states through autoionization channels by solving the complex secular equation, and the interaction between the channels of the continuous spectrum in all orders of the perturbation theory by the K-matrix method. Good quantitative agreement between the energy-integrated theoretical and experimental photoionization cross sections for the satellite levels has been obtained for the first time. It is shown that only simultaneous consideration of the above-mentioned effects leads to such agreement. The resonant structure of the photoionization cross sections in this excitation energy range is related to the autoionization decay of the 4p ⁴5s(⁴ P _1/2)np and 4p ⁴5s(² P _3/2)np Rydberg series. The specificity of this process is that both series manifest themselves not independently but owing to their strong electrostatic interaction with the prominent 4p ⁴(¹ D)5s ² D _5/2 6p _3/2 resonance, which lies in this excitation energy range.     

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 ).     

Magneto-optical trapping of bosonic and fermionic neon isotopes and their mixtures: isotope shift of the 3P2 ↔ 3D3 transition and hyperfine constants of the 3D3 state of 21Ne

We have magneto-optically trapped all three stable neon isotopes, including the rare ²¹Ne, and all two-isotope combinations. The atoms are prepared in the metastable ³P₂ state and manipulated via laser interaction on the ³P₂ ? ³D₃ transition at 640.2?nm. These cold (T ≈ 1?mK) and environmentally decoupled atom samples present ideal objects for precision measurements and the investigation of interactions between cold and ultracold metastable atoms. In this work, we present accurate measurements of the isotope shift of the ³P₂ ? ³D₃ transition and the hyperfine interaction constants of the ³D₃ state of ²¹Ne. The determined isotope shifts are (1625.9 ± 0.15)?MHz for ²⁰Ne ? ²²Ne, (855.7 ± 1.0)?MHz for ²⁰Ne ? ²¹Ne, and (770.3 ± 1.0)?MHz for ²¹Ne ? ²²Ne. The obtained magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine interaction constants are A(³D₃) = (?142.4 ± 0.2)?MHz and B(³D₃) = (?107.7 ± 1.1)?MHz, respectively. All measurements give a reduction of uncertainty by about one order of magnitude over previous measurements.