High-Resolution Electron Spectroscopy of Laser-Excited Ba Rydberg Atoms
Herbert H. Rinneberg, Jörg Neukammer, U. Majewski +1 more
The ionization of $6sns^{1}S_{0}$ Rydberg states of $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}$ has been investigated by high-resolution electron spectroscopy. The Rydberg states were excited by two cw dye lasers via the $6s6p^{1}P_{1}$ level. The electron spectra show rich structure between 0.025 and 3 eV, largely attributable to collisional (Penning) ionization, photoionization, and autoionizing transitions. The first process might be interpreted as superelastic scattering of the Rydberg electron by optically pumped $\mathrm{Ba}(6s6p^{1}P_{1})$ or $\mathrm{Ba}(6s5d^{1}D_{2})$ atoms.
Physical Review Letters•Oct 24, 1983•15 citations