Experimental observation and theoretical calculations of triply excited 2s2p22Se, 2,4Pe, 2De and 2p32Po, 2Do states of fluorine

An alternative experimental technique for efficient population of triply excited states in atoms and ions is presented. The states are produced by triple electron capture in energetic ion-atom collisions. The method is used to study autoionizing ${2s2p}^{22}S,$ ${}^{2}P,$ ${}^{2}D,$ ${}^{4}P$ and ${2p}^{32}P,$ ${}^{2}D$ states of fluorine. Differential cross sections, resonance energies, and Auger decay branching ratios were determined from the experiment. Results are compared to different calculations based on the hyperspherical close coupling method.