Ba 6png, J=3 and J=5 autoionizing states.

Abstract

We report the energies and autoionization rates of the Ba 6png, J=3 and J=5 states which we have obtained by multistep laser spectroscopy. The observed 6png states have small quantum defects (0.03), and widths of 0.05 ${n}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$. The J=3 and J=5 series converging to the ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ 6${p}_{1/2}$ limit are degenerate while the two J=3 and two J=5 series converging to the ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ 6${\mathrm{p}}_{3/2}$ limit are easily distinguished. The splittings are in good agreement with the electric quadrupole splittings calculated by assuming nonpenetrating ng orbitals. The autoionization rates are also in accord with estimates assuming nonpenetrating orbitals.