Measurement of the Electric Dipole Polarizabilities of Metastable Mercury

The electric dipole polarizabilities of the 6s6p ³P₂ metastable state of mercury have been measured, using the E-H gradient-balance technique. The values obtained are αzz(MJ=2)=(4.7±1.9)×10^-24 cm³, αzz(MJ=1)=(4.4±0.9)×10^-24 cm³, and α=(4.5±1.5)×10^-24 cm³. In addition, the average polarizability of the 5d⁹6s²6p ³D₃ metastable state of mercury has been measured, using an electric-deflection method. For this state, α=(1.8±0.8)×10^-24 cm³. The metastable atoms are produced by electron bombardment of a ground-state mercury beam, and are detected by Auger ejection of electrons from a cesium-coated tungsten surface. The data are interpreted by simulating the experimental conditions on a digital computer.