Oscillator strength measurements of the 5s5p 3P1 → 5snd 3D2 Rydberg transitions of cadmium

We report oscillator strengths distribution in the bound region of cadmium corresponding to the 5s5p 3P1 → 5snd 3D2 (21 ≤ n ≤ 52) Rydberg transitions. The experiment was performed using two frequency doubled dye lasers simultaneously pumped by a common Nd:YAG laser in conjunction with an atomic beam set-up. The absolute photoionization cross section of the 5s5p 3P1 intermediate state at the 5s 2S1/2 ionization threshold has been measured as 20 (4) Mb using the saturation technique. The measured value of the photoionization cross section at threshold is used to extract the f-values of the above mentioned Rydberg transitions.