Autoionizing Rydberg series (np ', nf ') of Ar investigated by stepwise excitations with lasers and synchrotron radiation

Abstract

Synchrotron radiation is used to excite Ar to the intermediate states 3p(1/2)(5) (3d '[3/2](1), 5d '[3/2](1), 5s '[1/2](1,) 7s '[1/2](1)) and 3p(3/2)(5) (6d[1/2](1), 6d[3/2](1), 8s[3/2](1)), then excited by lasers to the autoionizing Rydberg series 3p(1/2)(5) np ' ([1/2](0,1), [3/2](1,2)) and nf '[5/2](2). For the intermediate states of 5s ', 7s ', and 8s, the np ' ([1/2](0) and [3/2](2)) series are observed with high intensity but not the np ' ([1/2](1) and [3/2](1)) series when the polarization vectors of two light beams are in parallel; but when they are in orthogonal, the np '[1/2](0) series disappears, the np '[3/2](2) intensity remains, and the np ' ([1/2](1) and [3/2](1)) series show up strongly. The intensity distribution of the np ' series strongly depends on the intermediate state. The spectra of the np ' series are assigned according to their intensity variation with the polarization vectors. The quantum defects determined for the series np '[1/2](0)(n=11-57), np '[312](2)(n=11-65), np '[3/2](1)(n=11-31), and nf '[5/2](2)(n=9-74) are 1.611 +/- 0.011, 1.683 +/- 0.013, 1.688 +/- 0.010, and 0.016 +/- 0.005, respectively. Our values are in excellent agreement with theoretical prediction. The spectral line shapes of autoionizing Rydberg states are analyzed with a Beutler-Fano profile. Reduced autoionization linewidths for the np '[1/2](0)(n= 11-16) series vary in the range 2549-4145 cm(-1), and the nf '[5/2](2)(n=9-11) series in 186-247 cm(-1) in reasonable agreement with theoretical prediction.