Spectroscopic Investigation of the Odd-Parity 3d 2 D → nf 2 F Transitions of Neutral Sodium

Abstract

We report new experimental data on term energies and effective quantum numbers of the odd parity Rydberg states of sodium in the 40687–41408 cm–1 energy range. The experiment was performed using a two-color scheme of three-photon laser excitation in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. The new observation includes much extended nf 2 F (12 ≤ n ≤ 51) series excited from the 3d 2 D intermediate state. In addition, oscillator strengths of the 3d 2 D → nf 2 F (16 ≤ n ≤ 45) Rydberg transitions have been determined and a complete picture is presented from n = 4–45 incorporating the present work and earlier computed results.