A laser spectroscopic study of Xe (5p5,nf') autoionizing states

Photoexcitation of long lived xenon 5 d [3/2] 2 atoms to 5 p 5 , nf ', 4 ⩽ n ⩽ 8, autoionizing states has been studied using a crossed-laser fast-atom beam method. Autoionizing features have been analysed using Beutler-Fano lineshapes to provide accurate field-free level positions, lifetimes and line shape parameters. The behaviour of the autoionizing line profiles in an electric field (⩽1.2kV/cm) has been studied.