Combination of laser and synchrotron radiation used to study atomic and molecular autoionization states

Two-color experiments combining synchrotron radiation from the SuperACO storage ring in Orsay (France) and conventional dye lasers have been performed to investigate excited atoms and molecules. Synchronization between synchrotron and laser pulses has been applied to study even-parity Xe*5p(5) mf', np' autoionization states of atomic xenon via the short-lived intermediate states Xe* 5p(5) (P-2(3.2)) 5d and 6d. In addition, we have analyzed the rotational structure of N-2(+) ions, produced by synchrotron radiation in the (2)Sigma (g) ground state, taking advantage of the high spectral resolution of a c.w. dye laser. These two examples emphasize the great potential of combined synchrotron and laser experiments with respect to third generation synchrotron radiation sources. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.