Absorption Coefficients of Krypton in the 600 to 886 Å Wavelength Region

Abstract

The total absorption coefficients, or cross sections, of krypton have been measured with a photoelectric technique in the 600 to 886 Å wavelength region. In contrast to most earlier measurements, a helium continuum was used as background rather than a line source, and it was therefore possible to study all wavelengths within the range 600 to 1100 Å with a resolution of 0.5 Å. With this resolution, it was possible to measure the absorption coefficients of the autoionized lines which belong to the two series p^{6 1}S₀ − p⁵(²p_1/2)ns′ and p^{6 1}S₀ − p⁵(²P_1/2)nd′ and which occur between the two ionization limits, 4p^{5 2}P_3/2 at 886 Å and 4p^{5 2}P_1/2 at 845 Å. At wavelengths below the ionization threshold at 845 Å, the ionization continuum was found to be almost constant in intensity, but it showed a slight decrease below 725 Å. At the edge of the continuum (845 Å), the absorption coefficient was 1370 cm⁻¹ ± 10%.