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.