Photodetachment of $K^{-}$ to the $4 {}^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}, 4 {}^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}, and 4 {}^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}$ levels of K

Relative cross sections for the reaction

K^{-} + h ν \to K^{*} + e^{-}

where

K^{*}

denotes the

4 {}^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}, 4 {}^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}, and 4 {}^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}

levels of neutral potassium have been measured. A crossed ion-laser beam technique was used to obtain measurements from threshold for the

P

levels at photon energies from ∼17 030

{cm}^{- 1}

to 20 486

{cm}^{- 1}

. A calibrated photometer detected the fluorescence due to the

4 P \to 4 S

decay for each of the fine-structure levels. For photon energies well above threshold the branching ratios are flat with values of 0.50 for the

4 {}^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}

level, 0.17 for the

4 {}^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}

level, and 0.33 for the

4 {}^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}

level. The latter two are in accord with the 1:2 statistical weight ratio of these levels. Near the

P

thresholds considerable structure is seen which suggests a final-state interaction.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:

Photodetachment ofK−to the4S122,4P122, and 4P322levels of K