Photoionization, Rayleigh, and Raman scattering cross sections for the alkali atoms

Abstract

An extensive set of photoionization, Rayleigh and Raman scattering cross sections have been presented for the alkali atoms: lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. This set consists of 16 photoionization cross sections and 47 Rayleigh and Raman scattering cross sections for each atom. Results are presented for incident photon energies from 0.01 to 0.5 Hartrees. These cross sections have been calculated with a fully relativistic atomic structure model. Polarization effects have been accounted for through the use of a semi-empirical dipole polarization potential and modified dipole operator. The computational method utilizes a principal value integral over the target continuum to deal with pole terms that arise for incident photon energies above the ionization threshold. The cross sections are valid for incident photon energies both above and below the ionization threshold.