Autoionization rates and energy levels of triplet nf , v =1 Rydberg states of H sub 2

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.4974· OSTI ID:6850132

Lindsay, M D; Kam, A W; Lawall, J R; Zhao, P; Pipkin, F M ^[1]; Eyler, E E ^[2]

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1. Lyman Laboratory of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (USA)
2. Department of Physics, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716 (USA) Department of Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716 (USA)

We have measured the linewidths of 35 different triplet Rydberg states of the H{sub 2} molecule with quantum numbers {ital n}=10--22, {ital L}=3, {ital v}=1, and {ital R}=0--4. An 18-eV electron beam excites a collimated H{sub 2} beam to the metastable {ital c}(2{ital p}){sup 3}{Pi}{sub {ital u}} state. Stepwise excitation using two counterpropagating cw single-mode dye laser beams excites the metastable molecule first to an intermediate state ((3{ital d}){sup 3}{Sigma} or (3{ital d}){sup 3}{Pi}) and then to a triplet {ital nf} Rydberg state. The linewidths for the {ital nf} Rydberg states give the autoionization rates, which agree satisfactorily with the polarizability--quadrupole-moment long-range interaction model. We also have measured the transition frequencies between these states to an accuracy of 0.002 cm{sup {minus}1}. We use these measurements to derive the ionization potential of the metastable triplet state to an accuracy of 0.020 cm{sup {minus}1} and the energy difference between the metastable and ground states of H{sub 2} to an accuracy of 0.025 cm{sup {minus}1}.

• OSTI ID: 6850132
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA) Vol. 41:9; ISSN PLRAA; ISSN 0556-2791
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
640304 -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
AUTOIONIZATION
COLLISIONS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
HYDROGEN
IONIZATION
IONIZATION POTENTIAL
KINETICS
LINE WIDTHS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MULTIPLETS
NONMETALS
RYDBERG STATES
TRIPLETS