Energy-pooling ionization via an autoionizing state in indium

Abstract

Energy-transfer collisions between two 6 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ laser-excited indium atoms leading either to ionization of one of the colliding atoms or to population of its ${\mathit{n}}^{2}$P Rydberg states, have been studied. Atomic lines corresponding to the 5s5${\mathit{p}}^{2}$ $^{2}$D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5${\mathit{s}}^{2}$6p $^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{1/2,3/2}$ interconfiguration transitions have been recorded as evidence of the energy-pooling ionization via an autoionizing state. Atomic lines corresponding to the ${\mathit{n}}^{2}$P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6 $^{2}$S transitions for n=9, 10, and 11 as well as to the 5 $^{2}$D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5 $^{2}$P transitions have proven that the population of highly excited indium atomic states is through the energy-poolimg collisions.