Theoretical study of the 4p5nln′l′ autoionizing states of Rb excited by electron impact

Abstract

Large scale configuration interaction calculations of energy levels, autoionization probabilities and electron-impact excitation cross sections of the autoionizing states 4p5nln′l′ (nl = 5s,4d,5p,4f; n′l′ = 4d,5s,5p,5d,5f,5g,6s,6p,6d,7s,7p) of Rb up to 19.6 eV were performed for the first time. The relativistic effects were taken into account in the Dirac–Fock–Slater approximation. The asymmetry parameters of the angular distribution of Auger electrons for a number of electron-impact excited states were calculated in a single configuration intermediate coupling approximation. Strong dependence on the energy of exciting electrons was found for the angular distribution of the emitted Auger electrons from the states with J > 3/2 at the polar ‘magic angle’ of 54.73°. The calculated data were used for the novel classification of lines in an experimental ejected-electron spectrum.