Measurements on photo-ionization of 3s3p¹P₁magnesium atoms

Abstract

This paper presents experimental studies of resonant two-photon ionization of Mg via the 3s 21 S0 → 3s3p 1 P1 transition using 285.2 nm CW light. Dimensionless ratios of the cross section for ionization into a continuum state of S character relative to ionization into a state of D character are extracted from data obtained in two independent experiments. We obtain the values 0.102±0.003 and 0.096±0.012, respectively, and compare these to current theoretical predictions.