Extensions to the spectrum of doubly excited Mg I in the vacuum ultraviolet

Abstract

The absorption spectrum of Mg I vapour between 2000 and 700 ņ has been reinvestigated, using the continuum emitted by the Bonn 500 MeV electron synchrotron as the source of background radiation. Extensions to the double excitation spectrum of the valence shell have resulted and are compared with recent data obtained by electron impact spectroscopy. Ab initio calculations of the doubly excited configurations have been extended to high series members, and the transition from LS to jj coupling is shown to be responsible for the appearance of a 1 S 0 - 3 P 1 series not previously detected by photoabsorption.