Dynamics of Excited High-Lying States of H2 and D2

The spectroscopy and dynamics of Rydberg states of molecular hydrogen is important in modeling discharge and electron beam pumped lasers, molecular ion electron collisions, and the photoionization of molecular hydrogen. Our primary objective was to investigate the excited states of H2 and D2 as two prototypes for a systematic study of manifestations of the static and dynamic interactions governing molecular Rydberg states. Our experimental approach employed a stepwise laser excitation scheme. Detection of the charged molecular, atomic fragments and the energy-analyzed electrons enabled us to measure autoionization, ionization, dissociation, and the competition between them. We studied and analyzed the np autoionizing Rydberg states in H2. We also studied the competition between photoionization and photodissociation from the C1IIuH2 state. In addition, we performed the first study of the onset of field ionization and the forced rotational autoionization of the np Rydberg states. We demonstrated that the ionization process can be described classically. Hydrogen Deuterium.