Measurements on photo-ionization of 3s3p 1P1 magnesium atoms

This paper presents experimental studies of resonant two-photon ionization of Mg via the 3s(2) S-1(0) --> 3s3p P-1(1) transition using 285.2 nm CW light. Dimensionless ratios of the cross section for ionization into a continuum state of S character relative to ionization into a state of D character are extracted from data obtained in two independent experiments. We obtain the values 0.102 +/- 0.003 and 0.096 +/- 0.012, respectively, and compare these to current theoretical predictions.