Population of the excited Ne atoms in 3d levels by dissociative recombination in the neon afterglow plasmas at room temperature

The paper deals with the optical investigation of the dissociative recombination of Ne ₂ ⁺ molecular ions with electrons in the afterglow period of d.c. and high-frequency glow discharges. It has been confirmed experimentally that the dissociative recombination produces excited atoms in the Ne (3p _i ) states and in the Ne (3d _j states at room electron temperature. Then, the normalized partial recombination coefficients have been determined as (3d)=0·26 and t<(3p)=0·74.     

Doppler-free resonant Raman auger spectroscopy of Ne+ 2s2p(5)3p excited states

Using very high resolution achieved by the Doppler-free resonant Raman Auger technique, we have resolved the lowest terms of the series of inner-valence excitations 2s2p(5)((1,3)P)np 2S, 2P, and 2D in Ne+. The measured Auger anisotropic parameters and branching ratios help to establish the assignments of these levels. The measured lifetime widths are in reasonable agreements with ab initio calculations available in the literature.     

The concentration of excited Ne atoms in a hollow-cathode discharge in He-Ne

The absolute populations of Ne levels have been measured spectroscopically for gas pressures of 0.1–8.0 mm Hg.I am indebtedto V. P. Chebotaev for direction in this work and to I. M. Beterov for collaboration in deriving the ratio of the probabilities for the 6328 and 6096 Å lines.     

Laser excited population redistribution in the 2p3p multiplet in neon

Using neon hollow cathode lamp and employing laser optogalvanic technique, we have studied population redistribution in the 2p⁵3p multiplet. The spectra recorded in the laser energy region of 23300 cm^− 1 -23600 cm^− 1 show transitions originating from both the laser excited levels as well as from an adjacent level whose population builds up as a result of collisional deactivation. Employing the optical delay technique, we have been able to extract decay rates associated with the collisional population mixing of the p levels.     

Optical characteristics of a unipolar corona discharge in working media of high pressure lasers on Ne(3s-3p) and Ar(3p-4d) atoms

The characteristics of a corona discharge in He-Ne and He-Ne-Ar mixtures were investigated at pressures of 50–350 kPa. An amply homogeneous stationary discharge of high pressure was obtained in the external zone of the corona discharge. This discharge can be used in making inversion of the transition of Ne and Ar atoms. Investigation of the kinetics of plasmochemical processes in a dense rare gas plasma was performed.     

Pressure effects on 2p5 3p - 2p5 3d transitions in neon

The collisional broadening and shift of four spectral lines of neon (747.2, 748.8, 753.5, 754.4 nm) arising from 2p⁵ 3p - 2p⁵ 3d transitions, emitted from a low-pressure glow discharge in pure neon and neon-helium mixtures have been measured using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The values of pressure broadening and shift coefficients are determined and analyzed in terms of the impact theory.     

Polarization effects in ionizing thermal energy collisions of laser-excited Ne(3p 3 D 3) atoms with Ar atoms

Using transverse and longitudinal excitation of a collimated metastable Ne(3s ³ P _2.0) beam with average velocities of 500, 800, and 1,200 m/s by means of a single mode dye laser on the²⁰Ne(3s ³ P ₂→3p ³ D ₃) transition, we have investigated ionizing collisions of polarized Ne(3s ³ P ₂) and Ne(3p ³ D ₃) atoms with Ar atoms. The product electrons were energy analyzed with high resolution (9–25 meV). The resulting Ne(3p ³ D ₃) electron spectra exhibit a strong dependence on the three types of laser polarization (π _∥,π_⊥, σ_?), chosen to prepare the excited atoms. In contrast, the Ne(3s ³ P ₂) spectra are only weakly dependent on polarization. Detailed model calculations have been carried out for the Ne(3p)+Ar cross sections, using computed excited-state potential curves, semi-empirical ionic potentials, and local autoionization width functions. A semiclassical closecoupling method is applied to describe the evolution of the polarized collision system in the coupled entrance channels. It is found that a single autoionization widthΓ(R) is not sufficient to describe the measured polarization effects properly. The dependence ofΓ on the initial and final state is expressed in terms of few reduced electronic transition matrix elements, which are determined by comparison of measured and calculated total cross sections and Ar⁺(² P _3/2)/Ar⁺(² P _1/2) branching ratios for ionizing collisions of the various Ne(3pJ=1,2,3) multiplet states with Ar. The matrix elements corresponding to Ar(3pσ)→Ne(2pσ) electron transfer during autoionization are found to dominate, but Ar(3pπ)→Ne(2pπ) transfer has also to be included. The resulting calculated electron spectra reproduce the measured polarization effects in a semi-quantitative way.     

Pressure-broadened atomic Li(2s-2p) line perturbed by ground neon atoms in the spectral wings and core

Full quantum calculations are performed to investigate the broadening profiles of the atomic lithium Li(2s-2p) resonance line induced by interactions with ground Ne(2s~22p~6) perturbers in the spectral wings and core. The X~2Σ~+, A~2Π,and B~2Σ~+ potential-energy curves of the two first low lying Li Ne molecular states, as well as the corresponding transition dipole moments, are determined with ab initio methods based on the SA-CASSCF-MRCI calculations. The emission and absorption coefficients in the wavelength range 550-800 nm and the line-core width and shift are investigated theoretically for temperatures ranging from 130 K to 3000 K. Their temperature dependence is analyzed, and the obtained results are compared with the previous experimental measurements and theoretical works.     

Population of 2p 55s levels of neon in He-Ne plasma: I. The evolution of mechanisms in the discharge and the afterglow

The spectroscopic study of population processes of neon 2p ⁵5s states was carried out in helium afterglow with small admixture of neon at PHe = 38.1 torr, [He]/[Ne]=10^?5 with pulsed discharge afterglow in helium with small admixture of neon (pressure equal to 38.1 mm Hg; ). It is established that the main mechanism of population of 3s ₂ level (in Paschen’s notation) in the discharge and the initial after-glow is the excitation transfer from metastable atoms of He(2¹ S ₀). The other three levels—3s ₃, 3s ₄, and 3s ₅—corresponding to 2p ⁵5s configuration are populated in the afterglow as a result of the dissociative recombination HeNe⁺ of ions with electrons. The same process is also the main channel of population of 3s ₂ level in the late afterglow phase, when the concentration of He(2¹ S ₀) atoms is small. The hypothesis of recombination mechanism is confirmed by observation of the response of line intensities to pulsed electron heating. The partial coefficients of dissociative recombination into 2p ⁵5s states are estimated.     

Recombination excitation of atoms in the negative glow of a neon discharge

It is shown that under anomalous discharge conditions an important contribution to excitation of radiation in a negative glow is made by dissociative recombination, which effectively populates not only the 2p and 3p, but also the higher-lying s and d, levels.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 18–23, June, 1977.     

The dissociative recombination of HeNe+ ions with electrons: The partial rate constants for the formation of atoms in the 2p 53p configuration

A simple experiment transparent for interpretation is presented in which afterglow of a discharge in helium with a small admixture of neon was studied. The intensities of the spectral lines of the Ne* atom at the stage of plasma decay were analyzed to find the conditions under which the dissociative recombination of heteronuclear ions HeNe⁺ + e ?? He + Ne* played a predominant role in the formation of part of the after-glow spectrum. The absolute values of partial coefficients responsible for the formation of excited neon atoms in the 2p ⁵3p configuration were determined.     

Observation and characterization of the fluorescence decay of the 2s2p(6)np 1P(o) excited states of Ne

Fluorescence decay of the 2s2p(6)np (1)P(o) excited states of neon has been observed directly for the first time. This process has also been observed indirectly by threshold photoelectron spectroscopy and in electron/photon coincidences. The measurements have allowed this weak decay channel to be characterized and branching ratios derived. The fluorescence excitation spectrum is well described by a simple Rydberg model that highlights the interplay and competition between the decay channels of autoionization and fluorescence.     

Multiphoton mass spectra of Xe2 molecules in the range of excited Xe*(6p, 5d) atoms

The (2 + 1) photoionization mass spectra of Xe₂ molecules are studied in a supersonic jet upon excitation by laser radiation in the energy range 80321.3–77821 cm^?1, corresponding to the dissociation of the Xe₂ molecule into atoms Xe(¹ S ₀) + Xe*(6p, 5d). Several vibrational progressions are observed, which are attributed to two-photon transitions of Xe₂ from the ground state to the excited states of the O ⁺ _g, 1_g, and 2_g symmetries. Based on the analysis of these progressions, the molecular constants of a number of excited states of Xe₂ are estimated.     

An intense, slow and cold beam of metastable Ne(3s) 3 P 2 atoms

We employ laser cooling to intensify and cool an atomic beam of metastable Ne(3 s) atoms. Using several collimators, a slower and a compressor we achieve a ²⁰Ne^* flux of 6×10 ¹⁰ atoms/s in an 0.7 mm diameter beam traveling at 100 m/s, and having longitudinal and transverse temperatures of 25 mK and 300μK, respectively. This constitutes the highest flux in a concentrated beam achieved to date with metastable rare gas atoms. We characterize the action of the various cooling stages in terms of their influence on the flux, diameter and divergence of the atomic beam. The brightness and brilliance achieved are 2.1 ×10 ²¹ s^-1m^-2sr^-1 and 5.0 ×10 ²² s^-1m^-2sr^-1, respectively, comparable to the highest values reported for alkali-metal beams. Bright beams of the ²¹Ne and ²²Ne isotopes have also been created. Received 22 June 2001     

Experimental evidence of (2)He decay from (18)Ne excited states

Two-proton decay from (18)Ne excited states has been studied by complete kinematical reconstruction of the decay products. The (18)Ne nucleus has been produced as a radioactive beam by (20)Ne primary projectile fragmentation at 45 AMeV incident energy on a Be target. The (18)Ne at 33 AMeV incident energy has been excited via Coulomb excitation on a (nat)Pb target. The obtained results unambiguously show that the 6.15 MeV (18)Ne state two-proton decay proceeds through a (2)He diproton resonance (31%) and democratic or virtual sequential decay (69%). The quoted branching ratio has been deduced from relative angle and momentum correlations of the emitted proton pairs.     

Adhesion and recombination in the plasma of a discharge excited by the electron-beam method

We report experimental investigations of the laws governing the deionization of the plasma of a discharge excited by the electron-beam method. The balance of the charged particles is calculated. The effective adhesion and recombination rate constants, which are needed for the choice of the optimal pumping of electron-beam lasers operating in the repeated-pulse regime, are measured. The influence of oxygen impurities on the characteristics of the electron-beam discharge is investigated.Translated from Trudy Ordena Lenina Fizicheskogo Instituta im. P. N. Lebedeva, Vol. 116, pp. 188–201, 1980.