STATE-SELECTIVE DEPLETION SPECTROSCOPY OF NEGATIVE-IONS - FIRST OBSERVATION OF THE P-4 STATE IN CA- AND SR-

A new nonlinear laser technique, yielding accurate and detailed inform ation about the photodetachment process, is applied to the study of ex cited states in atomic negative ions. The method has facilitated the f irst experimental observation of the controversial P-4 State in the Ca - ion and the homologous state in the Sr- ion and also provided compre hensive information about their binding energies, fine-structure inter vals, and autodetachment lifetimes, together with the absolute strengt hs of the intercombination transitions to the P-2 ground states.