6pnf (J=2, 3, 4) and 6pnh (J=4, 5, 6) autoionising series of Ba

The autoionising series 6pnf (J=2, 3, 4) and 6pnh (J=4, 5, 6) of barium have been studied in an atomic beam using multistep laser excitations from the 6s5d and 5d 2 1 G 4 metastable states. Level assignments were made assuming jK coupling and using calculations of electric quadrupole splittings resulting from the long-range electrostatic interaction as well as calculated oscillator strengths. Effects of the interactions between the 6p 1/2 nf, h and 6p 3/2 nf,h series as well as between the 6pnf and 6pnp configurations could be observed.