Resonance ionization spectroscopy of negative ions

A new technique based on state-selective, resonant-ionization detection of atoms, produced by laser detachment or resonant excess-photon- detachment processes, has made it possible to obtain significant progress in the studies of structural and dynamic properties of negative ions and of nonlinear interaction of an autoionizing state with a near-resonant laser field. New methods are briefly described and illustrated by examples from stable and autoionizing negative ions formed by elements with a closed s-electron subshell: He^-, Be^-, Ca^-, Sr^-, Ba^-