Observation and assignment of D7,°7, and S7 Rydberg series of molybdenum atoms by multiphoton dissociation and ionization spectroscopy of organometallic molecules

The multiphoton ionization spectra of several arene molybdenum tricarbonyls have been measured in the region 350420 nm. These spectra exhibit allowed, two-photon resonant ns 7S3 and nd 7DJ Rydberg series of neutral bare molybdenum atoms. Furthermore, the electric field inherent to the multiphoton ionization experiment also permits observation of the nominally forbidden np 7P°J Rydberg series. A nonlinear least-squares regression of the Rydberg equation was used to obtain an improved ionization potential of molybdenum and the quantum defects of the three series.