A comparative investigation of Rydberg-state survival in several moleculesusing mass-analyzed threshold ionization

Mass-analyzed threshold ionization experiments have enabled mapping of the n-dependent Rydberg state survival probability for a series of molecules. U tilizing vacuum ultraviolet photons, one-photon Rydberg manifold spectra of Ar, HCl, N-2, C6H6 and O-2 were produced, and the prospects of photoinduce d Rydberg ionization experiments examined. It was found that the widths of Rydberg manifolds for the molecules studied are quite different. Hydrogen c hloride and nitrogen have the narrowest manifold width, followed by benzene , and then oxygen. These varying widths are most strongly correlated with t he angular momentum (i.e., quantum defect) of the initially prepared Rydber g orbital. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.