EXCITED P-STATES OF ALKALI ATOMS IN LIQUID-HELIUM

The configuration of liquid helium around an alkali atom in an excited p state is investigated using a simple continuous and local description of the liquid. It is found that it is qualitatively different from the spherical cavity found around an impurity in a s-state. Nodal planes or lines of the electronic wave function allow some helium atoms to come very close to the atomic core. These atoms are expected to play a key role in the non radiative decay of excited states. Large fine structures tend to reduce their number. The first excited state of Na and that of Cs are considered as examples.