Cross sections for photoionization of the 6²P-fine structure levels of cesium

The cross sections for photoionization of excited cesium from the 62P3/2- and 6²P1/2-fine structure levels have been measured using a triple crossed-beam apparatus. Two photon beams, one for excitation and one for ionization, impinge upon an atomic beam and produce ions at the point of intersection. The relative cross section is determined from a knowledge of the ion count rate and the relative photon flux of the ionization light. The results are normalized to available theoretical calculations and compared with recombination measurements in cesium plasmas. The present cross sections are found to decrease with decreasing wavelength more rapidly than predicted by theory, but are in excellent agreement with previous experimental studies of the combined 62P-states --Abstract, page ii