The ionisation rate coefficients of radiatively excited rubidium atoms Rb(n2P) +Rb(52S)

Abstract
The chemi-ionisation of the Rydberg states in rubidium was investigated experimentally using an absorption cell. The dissociation energy of the molecular ion Rb2+ was found to be equal to D+=(0.72+or-0.06) eV and the ionisation rate coefficients were determined for the levels 82P to 142P (table 2). The properties of the chemi-ionisation of alkali metals are discussed.