We have performed close-coupling calculations on electron scattering by Ca atoms and on photodetachment of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ions by using a six-state
(1S- $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}$ $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}$ $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}$ $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}$
1P) R-matrix method. We predict a strong interaction between (
4s21S+\ensuremath{\epsilon}d
)2D and (
4s4p3P+\ensuremath{\epsilon}p
)2D channels that gives rise to two relatively broad resonance peaks in the d-wave cross section. In addition, one obtains a strong and a weak peak in the total scattering cross section. Our calculations on the photodetachment cross section of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ions yield results that are in good qualitative agreement with the experimental data by allowing for the opening of a detachment channel connected to the excited state
4s4p3P.
The binding energies of the
4s24p2P ground state in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ have been determined by means of state-selective photoionization of Ca atoms produced in s-wave photodetachment to be $24.55\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$ meV for the
J=1/2 and $19.73\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$ meV for the
J=3/2 component. The sensitivity of the detection technique applied has also made it possible to disprove previous claims for the observation of a metastable ${4s4p}^{2}^{4}P$ state in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$.
Our Dirac R-matrix calculations suggest that none of the heavy alkali-metal negative ions, Rb, Cs, and Fr, has an excited bound state. Their lowest excited state appears to be a multiplet of
3PJo-shape resonances, the
J=1 component of which was recently observed in photodetachment experiments on ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{\ensuremath{-}}.$ We analyze these
3PJo and the
3Se excited negative ion states in partial and converged total scattering cross sections for slow electrons with incident kinetic energies below 120 meV. Our results are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. We also propose a new value for the electron affinity of Fr, provide the scattering length for electronic collisions with Rb, Cs, and Fr, and discuss the nuclear charge dependence of relativistic effects in the resonance profiles.
Electron-transmission spectroscopy is used to observe structure in the electron-scattering cross section associated with the formation of temporary negative ions and channel-opening effects. A strong ``family'' resemblance is apparent among the resonances of the alkali metals. From published calculations and angular scattering studies, the lower-lying features are known with some confidence. Based on these, plausible assignments for some of the higher-lying resonances are put forth. We propose that the absence of resonances near the Cs 5
2D and possibly the Na 4
2P and 5
2P thresholds is associated with the negative polarizabilities of these excited states.
Relative yields of
Ca+ and ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ions from thermal-energy collisions between highly excited
Ca∗ 4snd
1D Rydberg atoms and Ca ground-state atoms are measured as a function of n. The collisions take place within an effusive Ca atomic beam. The cross section for a collision resulting in a bound ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and a ground-state
Ca+ is expected to be large when the binding energy of the excited Rydberg state nearly matches the electron affinity of Ca. We observe a large increase in positive and negative ions for n=25 only. This result strongly suggests that the binding energy of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ is 24\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.4 meV.
The formation of
Ca+ ions is measured in an effusive Ca beam by exciting through either the 4s4
p1P1 or the 4s5
p1P1 state to highly excited Ca*(4
snd1D2) Rydberg states. In agreement with previous work by McLaughlin and Duquette [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1176 (1994)], when the Rydberg states are accessed through the 4s5
p1P1 state, we detect a large increase in
Ca+ ions for n=25, compared to other high-n Rydberg states. It had been reported (Fabrikant [Phys. Rev. A 48, R3411 (1993)]; McLaughlin and Duquette) that ``ground-state--Rydberg-state'' collisions cause this large increase in ion production and that the result provides a precise value of the electron affinity of Ca through the binding energy of the Rydberg electron. However, a variation of the original experiment in which the same Rydberg states are accessed through the 4s4
p1P1 level instead of the 4s5
p1P1 level shows no enhancement of ions for any particular Rydberg level. With a three-laser experiment we show that the enhanced ionization effect for the 25d state is due to the 3${\mathit{d}}_{3/2}
9{\mathit{f}}_{5/2}$, ${\mathit{J}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}$=${2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ autoionizing resonance, which is coincidentally accessed from the Ca(4s25
d1D2) state by the 808-nm photon involved in the original experiment by McLaughlin and Duquette. The existence of this resonance close to the experimentally observed energy is also established by R-matrix calculations. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.