Lifetimes of Rydberg states in zero-electron-kinetic-energy experiments. I. Electric field induced and collisional enhancement of NO predissociation lifetimes

Lifetime measurements are reported for high principal quantum number (n=40–125) Rydberg states of the NO molecule, prepared using state-selective double resonance excitation with a narrow bandwidth laser. The influence of (i) the application of a dc electric field, and (ii) interactions of the Rydbe...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of Chemical Physics 1995-06, Vol.102 (22), p.8818-8832
Hauptverfasser: Vrakking, Marc J. J., Lee, Yuan T.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Lifetime measurements are reported for high principal quantum number (n=40–125) Rydberg states of the NO molecule, prepared using state-selective double resonance excitation with a narrow bandwidth laser. The influence of (i) the application of a dc electric field, and (ii) interactions of the Rydberg states with surrounding ions, were investigated. It is demonstrated that the presence of dc electric fields can lead to enhancements in the lifetimes due to l-mixing, and the conclusion is reached that under the conditions existing in a typical zero-electron-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy experiment, the Rydberg states involved are excited in a regime where l-mixing is expected to be significant. It is observed that l- and m-mixing collisional interactions provide a further mechanism to stabilize the optically prepared Rydberg states, beyond the limits which can be achieved by l-mixing alone.
ISSN:0021-9606
1089-7690
DOI:10.1063/1.468935