MULTIPHOTON IONIZATION OF MAGNESIUM VIA AN AUTOIONIZING STATE

Multiphoton single and double ionization of magnesium was studied by m easuring electron energy spectra and ion mass spectra using 1-ps laser pulses in the 580-595-nm wavelength and 10(12)-10(13)-W/cm2 intensity range. In single ionization the (3p)2 1S doubly excited autoionizing state, resonant at the four-photon level, is found to play an importan t role. Single ionization leaving the Mg+ ion in the 3p excited state is strongly enhanced when resonant with the (3p)2 1S state. The amount of above-threshold ionization observed also varies strongly in the wa velength range under study. At an intensity of 2 x 10(13) W/cm2, seque ntial double ionization is found to occur dominantly via the excited i onic state Mg+(3p). The first ionization step populates this state les s than the ion ground state, Mg+(3s), but this is compensated by the l ower order of the second ionization step.