Photoionization and electron-impact ionization ofXe3+

Abstract

Photoionization and electron-impact ionization of ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{3+}$ ions in the region of $4d$ inner-shell excitation-autoionization have been studied using interacting-beam spectroscopic techniques. Absolute cross sections for photoionization of ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{3+}$ have been obtained and the electron-impact spectrum has been normalized to previously published absolute data. The ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{3+}$ spectra show large contributions from $4d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}nf$ excitation-autoionization processes compared to the lower charge states of Xe due to the significant collapse of the $nf$ wave functions into the ion core as the initial charge state of the ion is increased. In addition, a tentative value for the ionization potential of ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{3+}$ of $42.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ was obtained.