Single-photon single ionization of W$^{+}$ ions: experiment and theory

TL;DR

This study combines experimental measurements and theoretical calculations to analyze the photoionization cross sections of tungsten W$^{+}$ ions, revealing detailed resonance structures and improving understanding of their electronic behavior.

Contribution

It provides the first combined experimental and theoretical analysis of W$^{+}$ photoionization, including high-resolution measurements and advanced Dirac-Coulomb R-matrix calculations.

Findings

Experimental cross sections measured from 16 to 245 eV.

Theoretical calculations reproduce main features of experimental data.

Resonance structures observed and analyzed in detail.

Abstract

Experimental and theoretical results are reported for photoionization of Ta-like (W$^{+}$) tungsten ions. Absolute cross sections were measured in the energy range 16 to 245 eV employing the photon-ion merged-beam setup at the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley. Detailed photon-energy scans at 100 meV bandwidth were performed in the 16 to 108 eV range. In addition, the cross section was scanned at 50 meV resolution in regions where fine resonance structures could be observed. Theoretical results were obtained from a Dirac-Coulomb R-matrix approach. Photoionization cross section calculations were performed for singly ionized atomic tungsten ions in their $5s^2 5p^6 5d^4({^5}D)6s \; {^6}{\rm D}_{J}$, $J$=1/2, ground level and the associated excited metastable levels with $J$=3/2, 5/2, 7/2 and 9/2. Since the ion beams used in the experiments must be expected to contain long-lived excited states also from excited configurations, additional cross-section calculations were performed for the second-lowest term, $5d^5 \; ^6{\rm S}_{J}$, $J$=5/2, and for the $^4$F term, $5d^3 6s^2 \; ^4{\rm F}_{J}$, with $J$ = 3/2, 5/2, 7/2 and 9/2. Given the complexity of the electronic structure of W$^+$ the calculations reproduce the main features of the experimental cross section quite well.