Study of the np 2P Rydberg series in aluminum

Abstract

We have investigated the np 2P Rydberg series in aluminum. The high lying levels were populated by stepwise excitation in an atomic beam apparatus using two pulsed dye lasers. The series was found to be unperturbed and the level values are described with high precision by the extended Rydberg-Ritz formula. The value of the quantum defect is 1.243 ± 0.003. The fine structure of the 26p 2P state was observed. The fine structure separation of this state is 19.2 ± 2 mK. The quadratic Stark effect was measured and interpreted. The value for the polarizability is Qn = 3.8 ± 0.6 × 10−15 n*−7 cm−1/(V cm−1)2.