RESONANCE IONIZATION OF METASTABLE RARE-GAS ATOMS

In this paper, we present a survey of recent. basic studies and applications involving resonant two-photon ionization of metastable rare gas atoms Rg(ms P-3(2,0)) by cw lasers. Odd Rg(ns',nd' ) autoionization resonances, as excited from intermediate levels Rg(mp, J(i) = 1,2), are discussed in some detail with emphasis on the dependence of their widths on orbital and total angular momentum and on atomic number. Two applications, based on efficient ionization via the Rg(mp, J(i) = 3) level, are described: i) Absolute detection of metastable rare gas atoms; ii) Laser photoelectron attachment to molecules at sub-meV resolution.