Measurements of photoionization of mercury atoms into the 6s 2S1/2, 5d96s2 2D5/2 and 5d96s2 2D3/2 ionic states over the energy range from 10.5 eV to 18.7 eV

Photoionization of mercury atoms into the three lowest ionic states, 5d106s 2S1/2, 5d96s2 2D5/2 and 5d96s2 2D3/2 has been studied in the photon energy ranges from their respective thresholds to 18.7 eV. The photoionization spectra were obtained with high energy resolution at an angle of 0° with respect to the polarization vector of the photon beam. The high energy resolution and sensitivity achieved in the measurements permitted resonance structures resulting from the decay of several series of autoionizing states of mercury atoms to be recorded in detail, also for high-n Rydberg members. Energies and widths of some selected autoionizing states have been determined. Effects of interchannel interference between autoionizing series of mercury atoms were also observed.