Laser optogalvanic spectroscopic studies of xenon

We report new data on the bound odd-parity Rydberg series of xenon using single-colour two-photon laser optogalvanic spectroscopy. These series are excited from the 5p(5)6s[3/2](2) metastable level. A total of eight odd-parity 5p(5)nd[1/2](0) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 22), 5p(5)nd[1/2](1) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 23), 5p(5)nd[3/2](2) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 17), 5p(5)nd[5/2](2) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) and 5p(5)ns[3/2](3) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 29), 5p(5)nd[7/2](3) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 21), 5p(5)nd[7/2](4) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) and 5p(5)ns[3/2](2) (14 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) Rydberg series are observed with an accuracy of +/-0.3 cm(-1). The 5p(5)nd[1/2](0) (12 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 21), 5p(5)nd[7/2](4) (25 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) and 5p(5)ns[3/2](2) (27 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 44) series for high-n values are reported for the first time. We have also observed an even-parity (two-photon parity-forbidden) 5p(5)np[5/2](2) (16 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 27) Rydberg series excited fiom the 5p(5)6s[3/2](2) metastable level by focusing the laser in the region (10 mm away from the cathode) of discharge where the electric field is stronger. The multichannel quantum defect theory analysis for the odd-parity bound levels of J = 0, 2 and 3 has been performed. Besides these two-photon Rydberg series we also report a number of single-photon transitions. Some of them can be grouped into 5p(5)nf Rydberg series (10 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 26).