Rydberg series and autoionization resonances in the Y I absorption spectrum

Abstract
The absorption spectrum of yttrium vapour has been photographed in the spectral range 1650 to 2250 À, with a 10 m spectrograph. Series of autoionization resonances, which converge on excited states of the Y + ion have been identified, as combinations with the doublet ground-state of Y I , 5s 2 4d 2 D 3/2 , 5/2 . Although the lines of these series show broadened and often asymmetrical profiles, the lines are sufficiently well defined to fix a value for the first ionization potential of Y I , which differs from the previously accepted value by approximately 2500 cm -1 . In addition, approximately 400 new Y I lines, which involve excited levels below the first ionization limit of Y I , namely 4s 2 1 S o , have been found. The majority of these are unclassifiable at present but, the value for the first ionization-potential being known from the resonances above-mentioned, two series of the character 5s 2 4d 2 D 3/2 , 5/2 -5s 2 nf 2 F o have been identified. In addition to the identifications of series, 152 new lines below the 5s 2 1 S o limit identify 76 new levels of Y I , of odd parity.

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