2-PHOTON ABSORPTION AND PHOTOIONIZATION CROSS-SECTION MEASUREMENTS IN THE 5P56P CONFIGURATION OF XENON

Two-photon absorption cross sections of ground-state xenon atoms to the 2p5(J=0), 2p6(J=2), and 2p9(J=2) states in the 5p56p configuration and photoionization cross sections at 193 and 248 nm from the 2p5 and 2p6 states have been determined and are compared with previous experimental and theoretical values where such exist. Fluorescence depletion spectroscopy as a method for determining excited-state photoionization cross sections is described and discussed and shown to have many attractive features. Based on our cross-section measurements, we calculate that (2+1)-photon photoionization in Xe with a laser intensity of 30 MW/cm2 during 25 ns at 249.6 nm, using the 2p5(J=0) state as an intermediate state, can produce a fractional ionization of 10%. © 1990 The American Physical Society.