Laser-driven ionization of Cs and absorption spectrum of resultant Cs^+ vapor

By pumping the 6s–7p line of neutral cesium at 4593 Å with a flash-pumped dye laser we obtained ~80% ionization in a heat-pipe-generated Cs vapor. An absorption spectrum of Cs+ was then obtained, showing the 5p6–5p5nd and ns Rydberg series both below and above the 5p5 2P3/2 threshold. Effects of channel mixing are seen in the broadening of the nd series members above threshold and in the anomolous intensity behavior below. This strong interaction is reflected in the Lu–Fano plot shown for these data.