The interactions of a ZEKE electron with its ionic core: an experimental measurement

The degree to which an electron in a highly stable Rydberg state, at energies above its classical ionization threshold, interacts with the molecular core has been experimentally measured. The decay rate of the resilient blue, or upshifted, Stark states in the presence of a field, strong enough, to ionize these states was measured and determined to be strongly dependent on the ion concentration present at the point of photoexcitation.