Influence of the Radiative Decay on the Cross Section for Double Excitations in Helium

• The fluorescence yield spectrum of the double excitations in helium has been measured. All three Rydberg series converging to the N = 2 threshold are resolved, and the intensity of the individual lines is determined. The intensity variation through each series indicates that the radiative decay channel cannot be neglected when discussing the double excitations in helium. This calls for a revision of the interpretation of the absorption spectrum, and sets the limit for using the ion yield method to monitor the absorption probability.

Keyword

excited-states

high-resolution

threshold

lifetime

He

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)