Dissociative Excitation of the Odd Sextet Levels of the Cobalt Atom by Collisions of Electrons with Cobalt Dichloride Molecules

Inelastic collisions of slow electrons with cobalt dichloride molecules, leading to the formation of excited cobalt atoms in odd sextet states, are experimentally studied. At an incident electron energy of 100 eV, thirty six dissociative excitation cross sections are measured for levels belonging to the z⁶D°, z⁶F°, and z⁶G° terms. In the electron energy range of 0–100 eV, ten optical excitation functions are recorded. The full cross sections for the dissociative excitation of the cobalt atom levels and the contribution of cascade transitions to their population are determined. The cross sections for electron–molecule and electron–atom collisions are compared.     

Dynamics of electron excitation of low-energy quartet states of the potassium atom

The electron excitation function for the lowest (3p ⁵3d4s)⁴ P autoionizing quartet level of the potassium atom is measured in the energy range from the threshold of the process to 102 eV at the energy resolution of 0.3 eV or better. The near-threshold energy region is studied in detail for the first time. The main processes that govern the dynamics of excitation of the low-lying quartet levels in the potassium atom are analyzed by comparing these data with the excitation functions obtained earlier for the (3p ⁵4s4p)⁴ S and (3p ⁵4s4p)⁴ D levels. In particular, the resonances of negative ions in the near-threshold energy region are shown to play a dominant role, as well as to significantly affect the efficiency of the cascade transitions from higher-lying quartet levels.     

Excitation of the Yb II transitions terminating on the low-lying odd levels

Excitation of the transitions from the even levels of a singly charged ytterbium ion that terminate on the low-lying odd levels 4f ¹³(² F°)6s ^{2 2} F°, 4f ¹⁴(¹ S)6p ² P°, and 4f ¹³(² F°_7/2)5d6p(³ D)³[3/2]° is experimentally studied by measuring 51 excitation cross sections at an electron energy of 50 eV, and 16 optical excitation functions are determined within the electron energy range 0–200 eV. The largest magnitudes of the measured cross sections exceed 3 × 10^?17 cm².     

Study of postcollision interaction upon electron-impact excitation of the magnesium atom

The excitation functions of the spectral lines of the MgI principal series in the VUV region (for the principal quantum numbers n = 4–7) are studied in experiments on collisions of electrons with magnesium atoms in the range of electron energies from the excitation thresholds to ～25 eV. The scatter in the electron energy was ～0.7 eV. Above the ionization potential, some singularities attributed to autodetachment and autoionization states were found in excitation functions. Shifts to higher energies with increasing n, which take place for the most significant singularity (maximum) relative to the autoionization state 3p4s ¹ P ₁ ^o , are explained by the important role played by this state in the population of the initial levels through the mechanism of post-collision interaction. The theoretical analysis of the experimental results based on the classical model of the postcollision interaction estimates the width of the autoionization state as ～0.45 eV, which is close to the data of other researchers.     

Excitation of even levels of erbium atoms without a change in the number of 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> electrons

The excitation of even levels of erbium atoms by slow electrons that occurs without a change in the number of electrons in the 4f shell is experimentally studied. The levels investigated belong to the 4f ¹²6s7s, 4f ¹²5d6s, 4f ¹²6s6d configurations. The cross sections measured at an electron energy of 30 eV lie within the range (0.2–18) × 10^?18 cm².     

Excitation of resonance lines of the cadmium ion by monoenergetic electrons

The excitation of resonance lines at 226.5 and 214.4 nm, corresponding to the transitions 226.5 (5p ² P ₁ ^2/0 →5s ² S _1/2) and 5p ² P ₃ ^2/0 → 5s ² S _1/2, respectively, in the Cd⁺ ion upon collisions with monoenergetic electrons with an energy in the range of 4–130 eV is studied with high precision by a spectroscopic method in crossing beams. It is found that the dependence of the effective excitation cross sections of the resonance doublet components on the energy of the electrons has a distinct resonance structure. It is shown that the dominant mechanism responsible for this structure is the capture of an incident electron by a Cd⁺ ion with the simultaneous excitation of an electron from the subvalence 4d ¹⁰ shell to the autoionizing states of the Cd atom with their subsequent decay (directly or via cascade transitions) to resonance levels of the ion. The results obtained are compared with data from other experiments and with the results of the R-matrix strong-coupling calculation of 15 states and of semiempirical calculation using the Van Regemorter formula.     

VUV-luminescence and excitation spectra of the heavy trivalent rare-earth ions in fluoride matrices

VUV 4f ⁿ → 4f^n?15d transitions of Gd³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺, and Lu³⁺ in fluoride matrices have been analyzed with high-resolution luminescence and excitation spectroscopy. In trifluorides, strong electron-phonon coupling has been found. In the other matrices, the luminescence spectra clearly yield zero-phonon lines and phonon replica, indicating intermediate coupling. The energies of the zero-phonon lines observed are compared with theoretical predictions. Near the threshold of f → d excitations, some of the excitation spectra yield sharp structures which cannot be explained with phonon replica but will be discussed in terms of the energy levels of the 4f^n?15d configuration.     

Triggering of nuclear isomers via decay of autoionization states in electron shells (NEET)

Nuclear excitation by an electron transition (NEET) may be used for triggering the decay of nuclear isomers only when there are compensations between energies (ΔE) and multipolarities (ΔL) of the nuclear transition and the transition in an electron shell. It is shown that using the autoionization states (AS) allows one to compensate for the ΔE and ΔL differences. Laser radiation may be used for the excitation of AS with energies up to 10–15 eV and ^229m Th (3.5 eV) nuclear isomer excitation by NEET via AS decay. Ion beams, electron beams, and X rays may be used for the excitation of the trigger nuclear levels with energies up to 150 keV by NEET via AS and for the triggering of the nuclear isomer decay. For excitation of AS with the energies up to 150 keV, two or more hole states in deep inner electron shells must be excited. The cross section for such two-hole state excitation in electron shells by ion beams may be sufficiently high. The possibilities of NEET via AS for the triggering of nuclear isomer decay are discussed.     

Europium luminescence in fluorite upon high-energy excitation

The reflection and luminescence excitation spectra of CaF₂ crystals containing europium ions in divalent (Eu²⁺) and trivalent (Eu³⁺) states were measured in the range from 4 to 16 eV. It was established that, in CaF₂ : Eu³⁺ crystals, luminescence of Eu³⁺ ions (the f-f transitions) is effectively excited both in the charge-transfer band (at ～8 eV) and in the region of the 4f–5d transitions (at ～10 eV) but is virtually not excited in the fundamental region of the crystal (at an energy higher than 10.5 eV). Luminescence of Eu²⁺ ions (the 427-nm band) in CaF₂ : Eu³⁺ is effectively excited in the fundamental region of the crystal; i.e., luminescence of divalent europium ions occurs through the trapping mechanism. Emission of Eu²⁺ ions in CaF₂ : Eu²⁺ crystals is characterized by the excitation band at an energy of 5.6 eV (the 4f → 5d,t _2g transitions), as well as by the exciton and interband luminescence excitations. The results obtained and data available in the literature are used to construct the energy level diagram with the basic electron transitions in the CaF₂ : Eu crystals.     

Energy levels of ions of silver and rhodium isoelectronic sequences with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> < 86

The method of extrapolation of the parameter of a model potential for states of one electron (4f, 5s, 5p, 5d, 5f) above the core 1s ²2s ²2p ⁶3s ²3p ⁶3d ¹⁰4s ²4p ⁶4d ¹⁰ and one vacancy (4d ⁹) in the same core is applied to calculate the energy levels in the silver and rhodium isoelectronic sequences with the maximum nuclear charge Z = 86. The energy levels of Ag-and Rh-like ions were used for the calculation of the energies of resonance transitions to the ground state ¹ S ₀ in Pd-like ions. Good agreement between the theoretical and calculated energies of the resonance transitions in Pd-like ions indicates the reliability of the results obtained.     

Analysis of the spectrum of the Zn-like Kr VII ion: Highly excited 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> and 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> configurations

The spectrum of the Zn-like Kr VII ion, excited in a capillary discharge and recorded with a high resolution in the wavelength range of 300–1000 Å, was studied. Previously performed identification of the transitions from the levels of the 4s4f, 4s5s, 4s5p, and 4s5d configurations is confirmed and extended, and the energies of these levels are specified. The (4p ²+4s4d)?4p4d and (4p ²+4s5s)?4p5s transitions are identified for the first time, and the energies of all the levels of the 4p4d and 4p5s configurations are determined. The results of the analysis performed are confirmed by semiempirical calculations in terms of the Hartree-Fock method. These results are also shown to conform to the experimental data obtained for lighter ions of the Zn I isoelectronic sequence.     

Excitation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis> levels of a Sc atom in collisions with slow electrons

The excitation of the G and H levels of a Sc atom by slow electrons was investigated experimentally. Thirty-six excitation cross sections of the Sc(I) spectral lines were measured at an electron energy of 30 eV. Fourteen optical excitation functions were recorded in the range of electron energies 0–200 eV. Most of the optical excitation functions have a complex structure. The magnitudes of the cross sections are compared with previous experimental data.     

Spectrum of calcium-like copper Cu X

A copper spectrum has been excited in a vacuum spark and recorded in the range from 80 to 200 Å on high-resolution vacuum spectrographs. The 3d ²?(3d4p + 3d4f + 4p ⁵4d ³) transitions in the spectrum of ninetimes ionized copper (Cu X) have been investigated. Atomic calculations by the Hartree-Fock method with semiempirical correction made it possible to identify 64 new spectral lines. The energies of the corresponding levels are determined.     

Precision measurements of optical excitation functions for the mercury atom

We describe a computer-based facility for studying the excitation of atoms by ultramonochromatic electrons and give optical excitation functions for the 12 mercury spectral lines that originate from the n ¹ S ₀, n ¹ P ₁, n ¹ D ₂, n ³ S ₁, n ³ P _j , and n ³ D _j levels. We detected about 100 features in the energy dependences measured from the excitation threshold to 15.5 eV. The previously found positions of the features on the energy scale are in good agreement with our results. Most of the resonant features are shown to be mainly attributable to the decay of short-lived states of the negative mercury ion. We detected a postcollision interaction effect in the optical excitation functions of the lines that originate from the n ¹ S ₀ levels at energies of about 11 eV.     

Manifestation of the Coster-Kronig effect in the near-threshold electron-impact excitation of the Cd<Superscript>+</Superscript> ion

The near-threshold portions of the energy dependences of the effective excitation cross sections of the resonance transition 4d¹⁰5p²P_1/2° → 4d¹⁰5s²S_1/2 and the two-electron forbidden transition 4d⁹5s²²D_5/2 → 4d¹⁰5p²P_3/2° in the spectrum of the Cd⁺ ion were investigated by the spectroscopic method in crossed electron and ion beams. In the region of energy splitting of the ²P° and ²D levels, a significant resonance contribution of the autoionizing states of cadmium (decaying during the Coster-Kronig process) to the effective excitation cross sections of the noted transitions was revealed for the first time. It is found that the resonance contribution manifests itself much more strongly for the forbidden transition in comparison with the more intense resonance transition; i.e., the manifestation of the Coster-Kronig effect in the electron excitation of ions depends strongly on the cross section of the direct process. It is ascertained that, during the Coster-Kronig process, the main contribution to the resonance excitation of both the resonance and the two-electron forbidden spectral transitions is from the low-lying terms of the series of autoionizing states 4d¹⁰5p(²P_3/2°)ns, md and 4d⁹(²D_3/2)5s²ns, md, which are in the splitting region of the ²P_{1/2, 3/2}° and ²D_{5/2, 3/2} levels, rather than from the high-lying atomic autoionizing states of cadmium, which are located near the ionization limits (corresponding to the and ²P_3/2° and ²D_3/2 levels).     

Electron-stimulated desorption of cesium atoms from cesium layers deposited on a germanium-coated tungsten surface

The yield and energy distribution of Cs atoms from cesium layers adsorbed on germanium-coated tungsten were measured, using the time-of-flight technique with a surface-ionization-based detector, as a function of the energy of bombarding electrons, germanium film thickness, the amount of adsorbed cesium, and substrate temperature. The threshold for the appearance of Cs atoms is ～30 eV, which correlates well with the germanium 3d-level ionization energy. As the electron energy increases, the Cs atom yield passes through a broad maximum at ～120 eV. For germanium film thicknesses from 0.5 to 2 monolayers, resonance Cs yield peaks were observed at electron energies of 50 and 80 eV, which can be related to the tungsten 5p and 5s core-level ionization energies. As the cesium coverage increases, the Cs atom yield passes through a flat maximum at monolayer coverage. The energy distribution of Cs atoms follows a bell-shaped curve. With increasing cesium coverage, this curve shifts to higher energies for thin germanium films and to lower energies for thick films. The Cs energy distribution measured at a substrate temperature T = 160 K exhibits two bell-shaped peaks, namely, a narrow peak with a maximum at ～0.35 eV, associated with tungsten core-level excitation, and a broad peak with a maximum at ～0.5 eV, deriving from the excitation of the germanium 3d core level. The results obtained can be described within a model of Auger-stimulated desorption.     

Distribution of the oscillator strengths in the 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> absorption spectra of 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> transition metal films

The absorption cross-sections in the region of the resonance structure of the 2p ionization threshold of metal films are originally measured for the total series of 3d metals from Sc to Cu. The partial 2p absorption cross-sections are found, and the integral oscillator strengths are determined. The linear dependence of the sum of oscillator strengths in the range from 0 to 80 eV above the L ₃ absorption edge on the number of unfilled 3d states is established. The dependence breaks down for Cr, Fe, and Ni.     

4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>5</Superscript>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript> configuration in the spectra of rubidium-like Ru VIII and Rh IX ions

The spectra of ruthenium and rhodium excited in a low-inductive vacuum spark have been obtained using a vacuum grazing-incidence spectrograph with a grating of 3600 lines/mm 3 m in radius in the range of 180–350 Å. The bidium-like spectra of Ru VIII and Rh IX were analyzed. Ten spectral lines of the 4p ⁶4d-4p ⁵4d ² transitions are identified and six energy levels in the 4p ⁵4d ² configuration with an excited internal electron were found for each ion for the first time.     

Photoabsorption cross section of the Thomas-Fermi atom

The photoabsorption cross section σ(ω) and the distribution of oscillator strengths df/dω [these values are related as σ=(2π²e²/mc)(df/dω)] were determined for an atom with a large Z value using the semiclassical approach. These values were found for low frequencies with the use of the Vlasov kinetic equations, which were numerically solved by the method of particles. The asymptotic behavior of the distribution of oscillator strengths at high frequencies was determined by semiclassical equations for the photoabsorption cross section of electron shells in a Coulomb potential. The asymptotic equations were used to suggest an interpolation equation for the distribution of oscillator strengths over the whole Thomas-Fermi frequency range 27 eV ? ?ω ? 27Z² eV. This equation was used to calculate the logarithmic mean excitation energy, which appears in problems of ionization loss of charged particles. The distribution of oscillator strengths in a neutral atom allows the radiative properties of dense matter to be determined.