Spectroscopic investigations and configuration-interaction-assisted crystal field analysis of Pr in YPO4 single crystal

An optical study of a Y_0.99Pr_0.01PO₄ single crystal is presented. Measurements of optical absorption, excitation, and emission by selective excitation into ¹D₂, ³P₀ and ³P₁, at different temperatures between 20 and 295 K, are described. A detailed account of the line assignments is given for absorption in the 4300-23 000 cm⁻¹ spectral range, and for emission in the 6400-23 000 cm⁻¹ range. The lifetimes of the emitting levels are determined. Vibronic sidebands accompanying absorption, emission and excitation spectra are reported. The decay processes of the ³P₁, ³P₀ and ¹D₂ levels are discussed. The aim of this study is a test of the configuration-interaction-assisted crystal field analysis as well as the accurate experimental determination of the energy level scheme. It was reported previously that the introduction of configuration interaction between the ground 4f² configuration with the excited 4f6p configuration always resulted in a decrease (≈50-60%) in the standard deviations between the observed and calculated energy levels. In the present work the 4f5d configuration is included as well. The crystal field is analysed in the theoretical D_2d site symmetry with and without configuration interaction. The results with 4f², 4f²+4f5d, 4f²+4f6p and 4f²+4f5d+4f6p are given. The calculation on the basis of the 315 (4f²+4f5d+4f6p) levels gives the best overall standard deviation lowering it by 75% with regard to the calculation on the 91 4f² levels only.     

Resonance-enhanced multiple-photon ionisation spectroscopy of excited sulphur atoms

Sulfur atoms are produced in the excited 3s ²3p ^{4 1} D ₂ and 3s ²3p ^{4 1} S ₀ levels by two-photon photodissociation of CS₂ in the gas phase in the region 285–305 nm. These excited atoms are detected by three-photon (two to resonance) ionisation at selected laser wavelengths. Many new transitions have been observed which have not been reported previously. The new dark states that have been accessed by two-photon absorption have been characterised and the energy levels with respect to the ground ³ P ₂ state have been determined. Configuration interaction between 6p ³ P ₁, 6p ⁵ P ₁, and 4p¹ P ₁ states, and also between 6p ³ P ₂, 6p ⁵ P ₂, and 4p¹ D ₂ states has been observed. It is found that intermediate states reached from the ¹ S ₀ level through two-photon absorption lie above the first ionisation potential of S⁺(⁴ S ⁰). It is proposed that autoionisation into the ⁴ S ⁰+e^– continuum is a dominant mechanism in the decay of these levels, although ionisation by a further photon absorption is not ruled out.     

One- and two-photon laser optogalvanic spectroscopy of neon in the 570-626 nm region

Eleven two-photon transitions originating from the 2p⁵3s[3/2]₂, 2p⁵3s′[1/2]_o, 2p⁵3s[3/2]₁, and 2p⁵3s′[1/2]₁ states to the 2p⁵4d configuration states have been investigated in the optogalvanic spectrum of neon in the visible region (570-626 nm) for the first time. The two-photon assignments are confirmed by evaluating the temporal evolution, power dependency, and line widths of the optogalvanic signals. The time evolution of the optogalvanic signals for the two-photon transition originating from the metastable 2p⁵3s[3/2]₂ state to the 2p⁵4d′[3/2]₂ state has also been studied at different discharge currents.     

Multimode saturation resonances in optogalvanic spectroscopy: Application to the determination of lande g-factors in zirconium

Resonances corresponding to the matching of laser mode intervals with Lapmor precessional frequencies have been oberved in the discharge current for four transitions in the spectrum of atomic Zr, introduced into a gas discharge by cathodic sputtering. Signals were observed for lower as well as for upper levels. The measured g-factors for the states 4d²5s(a⁴F)5p ³F_2,3,4 and 4d²5s(a²P)5P ³P₂ are symmetrically higher than values given in the literature.     

Photoionization cross-section measurements from the 2p, 3d and 3s excited states of lithium

The photoionization cross-sections from the 2p²P_{1/2, 3/2}, 3d²D_{3/2, 5/2} and 3s²S_1/2 excited states of lithium have been measured at different ionizing laser wavelengths, above the first ionization threshold. The experiments are performed by using a thermionic diode working in the space charge limited mode and the cross-sections are measured by employing the saturation technique. By changing the ionization photon energy, a smooth frequency dependence of the cross-sections has been observed for the 2p and 3d states. The cross-section from the 3s excited state has been measured at a single photon energy. The measured values of the photoionization cross are compared with the available data.     

Measurements of photoionization cross sections from the 4p, 5d and 7s excited states of potassium

New measurements of the photoionization cross sections from the 4p ²P_1/2,3/2, 5d ²D_5/2,3/2 and 7s ²S_1/2 excited states of potassium are presented. The cross sections have been measured by two-step excitation and ionization using a Nd:YAG laser in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. By applying the saturation technique, the absolute values of the cross sections from the 4p ²P_3/2 and 4p ²P_1/2 states at 355 nm are determined as 7.2±1.1 and 5.6±0.8 Mb, respectively. The photoionization cross section from the 5d ²D_5/2,3/2 excited state has been measured using two excitation paths, two-step excitation and two-photon excitation from the ground state. The measured values of the cross sections from the 5d ²D_5/2 state by two-photon excitation from the ground state is 28.9±4.3 Mb, whereas in the two-step excitation, the cross section from the 5d ²D_3/2 state via the 4p ²P_1/2 state and from the 5d ²D_5/2,3/2 states via the 4p ²P_3/2 state are determined as 25.1±3.8 and 30.2±4.5 Mb, respectively. Besides, we have measured the photoionization cross sections from the 7s ²S_1/2 excited state using the two-photon excitation from the ground state as 0.61±0.09 Mb.     

2p3/2?13x?1?3x?13d?1 X-ray satellites spectra in the Lα1 region of 4d transition elements

The X-ray satellite spectra arising due to 2p _3/2 ⁻¹3x ⁻¹−3x ⁻¹3d ⁻¹ (x ≡ s, p, d) transition array, in elements with Z = 40 to 48, have been calculated, using available Hartree-Fock-Slater (HFS) data on 1s ⁻¹−2p ⁻¹ 3x ⁻ and 2p _3/2 ⁻¹−3x ⁻¹,3x ⁻¹ Auger transition energies. The relative intensities of all the possible transitions have been estimated by considering cross — sections for the Auger transitions simultaneous to a hole creation and then distributing statistically the total cross sections for initial two hole states 2p _3/2 ⁻¹−3x ⁻¹ amongst various allowed transitions from these initial states to 3x ⁻¹ 3d ⁻¹ final states by Coster-Kronig (CK) and shake off processes. In both these processes initial single hole creation is the prime phenomenon. Each transition has been assumed to give rise to a Gaussian line and the overall spectrum has been computed as the sum of these Gaussian curves. The calculated spectra have been compared with the measured satellite energies in Lα₁ spectra. Their intense peaks have been identified as the observed satellite lines. The peaks in the theoretical satellite spectra were identified as the experimentally reported satellites α₃, α₄ and α₅, which lie on the high-energy side of the Lα₁ dipole line.     

Two-color three-photon resonant excitation spectrum of strontium in the autoionization region

We report new studies of the odd parity autoionizing Rydberg series of strontium attached to the 4d( ² D _{3/2, 5/2}) ionic limits possessing J = 1-3 based on the two-color three photon resonant excitation technique in conjunction with an atomic beam apparatus. Using the 4d ²³ P ₀ intermediate levels, we have been able to record the autoionizing Rydberg series of J = 1 whereas, from the 4d ²³ P ₂ intermediate level the series of Rydberg levels possessing J = 1, 2 and 3 have been observed. The level assignments and the line shapes simulations of the autoionizing resonances have been made using the multichannel quantum defect theory. Received 21 November 2001 / Received in final form 2 May 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

High-temperature VUV spectroscopy of KYF4 crystals doped with Nd3+, Er3+ and Tm3+ ions

Thermal quenching of 5d-4f luminescence from Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions doped into KYF₄ crystals has been investigated in the temperature range up to ∼750 K where this luminescence is completely quenched. The obtained temperatures of thermal quenching (T_q) are ∼270, 495, 450 K for Nd³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺, respectively. At high temperatures, thermal quenching of 5d-4f luminescence from Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ is accompanied by the appearance of 4f-4f luminescence from the lower-energy 4f levels. It has been shown that the dominating mechanism of thermal quenching for Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions is thermally stimulated non-radiative transitions (intersystem crossing) from the 5d states to lower-energy 4f levels, namely ²G(2)_9/2 and ²F(2)_7/2, respectively, whereas for the Tm³⁺ ion, thermally stimulated ionization of 5d electrons to the conduction band states is responsible for thermal quenching of 5d-4f luminescence. The energy gap between the lowest Tm³⁺ 5d level and the bottom of the KYF₄ conduction band has been estimated to be 0.66 eV.     

Electroreflectance in GeSi alloys under hydrostatic pressure

From the electroreflectance spectra measured under hydrostatic pressure to 7 kbar we have determined the pressure coefficients for germanium (dE₁/dP = 7.8 ± 0.4⁻⁶eV/bar, dP = 1.4 ± 0.8 10⁻⁶eV/bar), for Si (dE′_o/dP = 1 ± 1 10⁻⁶eV/bar, dE₁dP = 6.2 ± 0.4 10⁻⁶eV/bar) and for GeSi alloys in the entire composition region. For the composition 80–100% of Si which is widely discussed in the literature, we could distinguish two maxima with substantially different pressure coefficients. The absolute experimental values of dE/dP agree rather well with theoretical values which, together with composition shift of electroreflectance peaks, enable us to connect the peak E₁ predominantly with λ and L and E′_o with Г and Δ transitions in the entire composition region.     

Soft x-ray absorption of FePS3 and NiPS3

With the partial yield technique we measured the absorption spectra of several core levels in FePS₃ and NiPS₃. The M_{2, 3} spectra of Fe and Ni are interpreted as localized transitions 3p⁶3d^m?3p⁵ 3d^m+1 of the transition metal ion, split into a multiplet by final state multiconfiguration interaction. The P L_{2, 3}, S L_{2, 3}, and S L₁ spectra are similar to each other and are interpreted in terms of the projected density of states of the conduction bands derived from the states of the (P₂S₆)^4? cluster.     

The vapor-phase Raman spectra and the ring-puckering vibration of some deuterated analogs of trimethylene oxide

The ring-puckering vibration has been observed in the Raman spectra of the vapor phase of several deuterated species of trimethylene oxide (α - d₂, β - d₂, α, α′ - d₄, and d₆). Only Δv = 2 transitions have a measurable Raman intensity. The line positions agree with infrared values to better than 0.5 cm⁻¹ in most cases and better than 1 cm⁻¹ in all cases. For all molecules the interpretation of the spectra is consistent with an essentially planar configuration having only a small barrier to inversion.     

A study of high spin states in the transitional nucleus90Mo

The reaction⁵⁸Ni(³⁶Ar, 4p)⁹⁰Mo has been studied at a beam energy of 149 MeV. A detector array consisting of the OSIRIS spectrometer (12 Compton-suppressed Ge detectors), four charged-particleδE detectors and seven NE-213 neutron detectors at the VICKSI accelerator in Berlin has been used to measure the gamma radiation inγγ- and particle-γγ-coincidence mode. An additional Ge detector was placed at 162? to the beam direction to provide information on DCO ratios. The level scheme of⁹⁰Mo has been extended up to an excitation energy of about 12 MeV and probable spin 23?. Some 70 transitions and 40 levels have been newly identified. Spin assignments have been proposed on the basis of measured DCO ratios. Shell model calculations in a model space consisting of the proton 1f _5/2, 2p _3/2, 2p _1/2, and 1g _9/2 orbits and the neutron 2p _1/2, 1g _9/2, 1g _7/2, 2d _5/2, 2d _3/2, and 3s _1/2 orbits with some truncation were made for states above 9? and the predicted structure of these states is discussed.     

Use of harmonic oscillator potential in the analysis of muonic transition energies

Energy levels: 1s _1/2, 2p _1/2, 2p _3/2, 3d _3/2, and 3d _5/2 of the muon in the spherical nuclei:¹²⁰Sn,¹⁹⁷Au and²⁰⁸Pb have been calculated under the assumption of harmonic oscillator potential. The levels are corrected for vacuum polarisation. The agreement with experimental values is better than 0·5%. An accurate method of solving the Dirac equation to obtain the energy eigenvalues is outlined. The importance of choosing the ‘classical turning point’ as the radius for matching the interior and exterior solutions is discussed.     

Isotope and Hyperfine Structure in the "Orange" System of FeO: Evidence for Two Δi Excited States

The orange system of FeO has been reinvestigated using low-temperature molecular beam laser-induced fluorescence spectra, obtained by supersonic jet cooling. Two new weak bands have been found, and analyses of some of the previously known bands extended. Measurements of the ⁵⁴Fe-⁵⁶Fe isotope shifts have been made for most of the bands, and the hyperfine structure of the low-J lines has been recorded for two of the strongest bands of ⁵⁷FeO. The isotope shifts are consistent with the presence of two ⁵Δ_i-⁵Δ_i transitions lying within 1000 cm⁻¹; the origins of the Ω = 4 spin components lie at 5583 and 6110 Å, respectively. The hyperfine patterns and the spin-orbit structure indicate that the upper state electron configurations are (3dδ)³ (3dπ)² (3dσ)¹, (D⁵Δ_i, 5583 Å) and O(2pπ)³ (4sσ)¹ (3dδ)³(3dπ)³, (D′⁵Δ_i, 6110 Å). The bond length in the D′ state (r₀ = 1.654 Å) has been obtained from a deperturbation of the 6110 Å band; it is only 0.035 Å longer than in the ground state, which indicates that electron promotion between the two π orbitals, nominally O(2pπ) and Fe(3dπ), has only a small effect on the strength of the bonding. The new isotope data still do not clarify the vibrational assignments of the higher levels, which are disorganized by extensive electronic perturbations.     

Time constants of radiative transitions from the 5<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>[3/2]<Subscript>1</Subscript> level of a xenon atom

Integral yields of spontaneous emission at wavelengths of 1.73, 2.03, and 2.65 μm have been measured upon excitation of pure xenon by a pulsed electron beam. These yields have been analyzed and experimental data have been obtained on time constants of radiative transitions 5d[3/2]₁ → 6p[5/2]₂, 5d[3/2]₁ → 6p[3/2]₁, and 5d[3/2]₁ → 6p[1/2]₀ of XeI, which appeared to be equal to (2300 ± 400) × 10^?9, (300 ± 40) × 10^?9, and (1300 ± 200) × 10^?9 s, respectively. It is shown that the experimental data are in a qualitative agreement with the results of computational and theoretical investigations. The results of averaging the experimental and calculated data are proposed for use as recommended values of the corresponding constants.     

Odd autoionizing 2p<Subscript>1/2</Subscript><Superscript>5</Superscript>n(s<Superscript>′</Superscript>/d<Superscript>′</Superscript>) resonances of Ne excited from the 2p<Superscript>5</Superscript>3p[K]<Subscript>J</Subscript> states

Absolute photoionization cross sections for Ne atoms in the excited levels (Paschen notation ) were calculated at near threshold energies within the configuration interaction Pauli-Fock approach including core polarization. The computed spectra and the lineshape parameters of the odd parity 2p_1/2 ⁵ns^′/d^′ autoionizing resonances are found to be in good agreement with high resolution laser spectroscopic results. Guided by the theoretical results, improved analyses of the measured spectra by superimposed Fano-type profiles were achieved. Theoretical predictions are presented for resonances which have not yet been studied experimentally. In addition, we report the absolute partial photoionization cross sections for the ²P_3/2 and ²P_1/2 channel at photoelectron energies up to 7 eV. Except for the highest lying 2p₁(¹S₀) level, these cross sections monotonically decrease with energy (as reported earlier in single-electron calculations for the Ne(2p⁵3p) configuration) with branching ratios which essentially reflect the core composition of the 2p_x levels. For the 2p₁ level the resonance structure and the partial cross sections are strongly influenced by a Cooper-Seaton minimum in the d_3/2 ^′ channel,located just above the ²P_1/2 ionization limit.     

DNA Duplex Dynamics: NMR Relaxation Studies of a Decamer with UniformlyC-Labeled Purine Nucleotides

Dynamics in a DNA decamer duplex,d(CATTTGCATC) ·d(GATGCAAATG), were investigated via a detailed¹³C NMR relaxation study. Every 2′-deoxyadenosine and 2′-deoxyguanidine was chemically enriched with 15%¹³C and 98%¹⁵N isotopes. Six nuclear relaxation parameters [R(¹³C_z),R(¹H_z),R(2¹H_z¹³C_z),R(¹³C_x),R(2¹H_z¹³C_x) and steady-state¹³C{¹H} NOE] were measured at 600 MHz and three were measured at 500 MHz (¹H frequency) for the CH spin systems of sugar 1′, 3′, and 4′ as well as base 8 and 2 positions. A dependence of relaxation parameter values on chemical position was clearly observed; however, no sequence-specific variation was readily evident within our experimental error of ∼5–10%, except for 3′ and 5′ termini. It was demonstrated that the random 15%¹³C enrichment effectively suppressed both scalar and dipolar contributions of the neighboring carbons and protons on the relaxation parameters. To analyze dynamics via all observed relaxation parameters, full spectral density mapping (1992, J. W. Peng and G. Wagner,J. Magn. Reson.98, 308) and the “model-free” approach (1982, Lipari and Szabo,J. Am. Chem. Soc.104, 4546) were applied complementarily. A linear correlation between three spectral density values,J(ω_C),J(ω_H− ω_C), andJ(ω_H+ ω_C) was observed in plots containing all measured values, but not for the other spectral density terms includingJ(0). These linear correlations reflect the effect of overall motion and similar internal motions for each CH vector in the decamer. The correlations yielded two correlation times, 3–4 ns and 10–200 ps. One value, 3–4 ns, corresponds to the value of 3.3 ns obtained for the overall isotropic tumbling correlation time determined from analysis of¹³C T1/T2 ratios. The possibility of overall anisotropic tumbling was examined, but statistical analysis showed no advantage over the assumption of simple isotropic tumbling. Lack of correlations entailingJ(0) implies that a relatively slow chemical exchange contributes to yielding of effectiveJ_eff(0) values. Based on spectral density mapping and the T1/T2 ratio analysis, three basic assumptions were initially employed (and subsequently justified) for the model-free calculation: isotropic overall tumbling, one internal motion, and the presence of chemical exchange terms. Except for terminal residues, the order parameterS²and the corresponding fast internal motion correlation time were determined to be about 0.8 ± 0.1 and 20 ± 20 ps, respectively, for the various CH vectors. Only a few differences were observed between or within sugars and bases. The internal motion is very fast (ps–ns time scale) and its amplitude restricted; e.g., assuming a simple wobble-in-a-cone model, the internal motion is restricted to an angular amplitude of ±22.5° for each of the 1′, 3′, 4′, 2, and 8 positions in the purine nucleotides in the entire duplex.     

Stark effect,hyperfine structure and isotope shifts in highly excited states of BaI and CaI

The electric dipole polarizabilities of 9 even-parity barium states (6s8s ¹ S ₀,³ S ₁; 6s7d ¹ D ₂,³ D _1,2; 5d7s ¹ D ₂ and 6p ^{2 3} P _0,1,2) in the interval 33,800–35,800 cm^?1 have been measured with high resolution laser-atomic-beam spectroscopy. Simultaneously, values of isotope shifts and hyperfine coupling constants for theJ=1 states have been obtained. Comparison of the experimental polarizabilities with calculated values as well as inspection of the data on isotope shifts and hyperfine structure from the present and earlier work strongly suggests erroneous assignments of theJ=2 states, with an exception for the 5d 7s ¹ D ₂ state. The influence of an electric field on the 3d ^{2 3} P _0,1,2 states of calcium has also been studied. A marked departure from a quadratic Stark effect has been observed at relatively small field strengths. This can be attributed to the large polarizabilities of neighbouring Rydberg states. The low field data allow the determination of admixtures of Rydberg states into the 3d ^{2 3} P-states as small as 0.02%.     

Bestimmung der Lebensdauer des 3d 9 4s 4p 4 P 3/2-Terms im Cu I-Spektrum mit optischer Doppelresonanz

The lifetime of the 3d ⁹ 4s 4p ⁴ P _3/2 state of Cu has been determined with optical double resonance by observation of radiofrequency transitions ΔF=0, Δm _F =±1 between hfs-Zeeman levels of the stable odd isotopes. The result is τ(3d ⁹ 4s 4p ⁴ P _3/2, Cu)=3.18(16)·10^?7 sec.