Abstract
We report an upper bound to the ionization energy of Rb of 31348.0(6) cm, which also provides a lower bound to the dissociation energy of Rb of 6307.5(6) cm. These bounds were measured by the onset of autoionization of the excited states of Rb below the atomic limit. We form Rb molecules via photoassociation of ultracold Rb atoms and subsequently excite the molecules by single-photon uv transitions to states above the ionization threshold.
- Received 11 December 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.87.012508
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