Photoionization and electron-impact ionization of Xe3+

Photoionization and electron-impact ionization of Xe3+ ions in the region of 4d inner-shell excitation autoionization have been studied using interacting-beam spectroscopic techniques. Absolute cross sections for photoionization of Xe3+ have been obtained and the electron-impact spectrum has been normalized to previously published absolute data. The Xe3+ spectra show large contributions from 4d→nf excitation autoionization processes compared to the lower charge states of Xe due to the significant collapse of the nf wave functions into the ion core as the initial charge state of the ion is increased. In addition, a tentative value for the ionization potential of Xe3+ of 42.2±0.2 eV was obtained