Electron-impact ionization cross section measurements out of the 5(2)P excited state of rubidium
We describe new techniques involving trapped atoms as targets for measurements of electron-impact ionization cross sections out of an excited level. By directly detecting the ions formed by electron collisions, we have obtained the first experimental ionization cross sections out of the 5(2)P excited level in rubidium at energies from 40 to 300 eV.