A new interpretation of the Rb I 4p subshell excitation spectrum between 15 and 19 eV

The Rb I 4p subshell excitation spectrum, as observed in both photo-absorption and electron impact experiments, has been compared with Hartree-Fock calculations. Detailed assignments are proposed for more than half the 40 lowest energy (15–19 eV) resonances. Apart from the leading doublet, 4p65s2S½–4p55s22P½, 1½ previous assignments are com­pletely revised. Assignments of the eight strongest lines, in addition to the leading doublet, are reasonably certain and a good general interpretation of the spectrum between 15 and 19 eV is achieved.