Abstract
We have studied high Rydberg states of krypton which are excitable from the 5p[3/2] states with J=1 and 2, using one-photon resonant, two-photon ionization beginning with the metastable 5s[3/2]2 state. An analysis of the ns and nd Rydberg state energies has allowed us to determine the ionization potential of Kr to an accuracy which is better than previous work, and resolves a discrepancy between previous laser-based and conventional spectroscopic results. The use of these intermediate states for the excitation of Rydberg states makes it possible to observe high members of series such as (n+2)s[3/2]1 and nd[1/2]1 which cannot be efficiently excited from the 5p' intermediate states which have been used in previous works.