LASER OPTOGALVANIC SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF XENON

We report new data on the bound odd-parity Rydberg series of xenon usi ng single-colour two-photon laser optogalvanic spectroscopy. These ser ies are excited from the 5p(5)6s[3/2](2) metastable level. A total of eight odd-parity 5p(5)nd[1/2](0) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 22), 5p(5)nd[1/2](1) (12 less than or equal to n less tha n or equal to 23), 5p(5)nd[3/2](2) (12 less than or equal to n less th an or equal to 17), 5p(5)nd[5/2](2) (12 less than or equal to n less t han or equal to 44) and 5p(5)ns[3/2](3) (12 less than or equal to n le ss than or equal to 29), 5p(5)nd[7/2](3) (12 less than or equal to n l ess than or equal to 21), 5p(5)nd[7/2](4) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) and 5p(5)ns[3/2](2) (14 less than or equal t o n less than or equal to 44) Rydberg series are observed with an accu racy of +/-0.3 cm(-1). The 5p(5)nd[1/2](0) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 21), 5p(5)nd[7/2](4) (25 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) and 5p(5)ns[3/2](2) (27 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) series for high-n values are reported for the first time. We have also observed an even-parity (two-photon p arity-forbidden) 5p(5)np[5/2](2) (16 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 27) Rydberg series excited fiom the 5p(5)6s[3/2](2) metas table level by focusing the laser in the region (10 mm away from the c athode) of discharge where the electric field is stronger. The multich annel quantum defect theory analysis for the odd-parity bound levels o f J = 0, 2 and 3 has been performed. Besides these two-photon Rydberg series we also report a number of single-photon transitions. Some of t hem can be grouped into 5p(5)nf Rydberg series (10 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 26).