PRODUCTION OF EXCITED CESIUM ATOMS FROM DISSOCIATION OF CSI MOLECULESBY ELECTRON-IMPACT

Excitation of cesium atoms by dissociation in collisions of slow elect rons with cesium iodide molecules is studied by the method of extended crossed beams. It is established that in the spectral series of cesiu m atoms, the absolute cross section varies with the principal quantum number by an exponential law. The constants appearing in the exponenti al law are evaluated. Plausible mechanisms of excitation by dissociati on at low electron energies are discussed.