Multi-step laser excitation of the highly excited 5snf F-1(3) states of cadmium

We report excitation energies, term energies and effective quantum numbers n of the 5snf F-1(3) Rydberg series of cadmium from n = 14 to 45 using a three-step laser excitation scheme via the 5s5d D-1(2) intermediate state. The experiment was performed using three dye lasers simultaneously pumped by the second (532 nm) and third (355 nm) harmonics of a Q-switch Nd: YAG laser in conjunction with an atomic beam setup. A two-parameter fit to the transition energies of the 5snf F-1(3) series yields the binding energy of the 5s5d D-1(2) level as 13,320.33 +/- 0.03 cm(-1) and consequently the first ionization potential of cadmium is determined as 72,540.06 +/- 0.15 cm 1, which is in good agreement with the previously reported values.