Autoionization spectra of Sm atom

Spectra of autoionizing states of the Sm atom in an energy region between 45948.9 cm-1 and 46943.6 cm-1 are systematically investigated by a three-color multi-step resonant excitation scheme with three different excitation paths.The three intermediate states,4f 66s7s 7F3,4f 66s7s 7F4,and 4f 66s7s 9F5 are employed for the three paths,respectively.Based on precise calibration of wavelength,the level energies of 112 autoionizing states are determined with the line widths and the relative line intensities of the related transitions.The possible influence of configuration interaction on the line shape of autoionizing state is also discussed.In addition,a unique value of J,the total angular momentum,is assigned to all detected states by comparing the three spectra obtained with the different excitation paths.     

NEW AUTOIONIZING STATES NEAR THE FIRST IONIZATION LIMIT OF RARE EARTH ELEMENT Dy

This paper describes the investigation of autoionizing states near the first ionization limit of rare-earth element Dy. The 62, 51, 97 and 25 new autoionizing states resulting from the states of 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈)6s6p(³P⁰₂)³I⁰₇, 4f⁹ (⁶H⁰)5d²(³F)(⁸G⁰)6s⁹G⁰₇, 4f⁹(⁶F⁰)5d6s^{2 7}H⁰₇ and 4f⁹5d6s^{2 7}K⁰₇, respectively, were found by using a laser resonance ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LRI-TOFMS), The photoionization efficiencies for different channels were compared with each other. In addition, the Shore-Fano parameters of autoionizing states were determined by a nonlinear fitting program.     

Two-photon spectroscopy of ytterbium

Two-photon laser spectra of the Yb vapor have been obtained. Transitions to highly excited 4f¹⁴ 6sns¹S₀ and 4f¹⁴ 6snd ¹D₂ states are seen in direct two-photon excitation. Hybrid resonances involving 4f¹⁴ 6s6p ¹P⁰₁ and 4f¹⁴ 5d6s ³D₂ intermediate states lead to transitions to 4f¹⁴ 6sns¹S₀, 4f¹⁴ 6snp ³P⁰_2,1 and 4f¹⁴ 6snd ¹D₂ levels.     

Radiative lifetimes of superradiant populated Ba Rydberg levels

Radiative lifetimes of 6s7f¹F₃, as8f¹F₃, and 6s9d¹D₂ Ba Rydberg levels were measured in an atomic beam by time resolved recording of the exponential decay of the fluorescence. The excitation was performed by use of two pulsed dye lasers and a superradiant emission or a superradiant cascade controlled by a cavity.     

Investigation of odd-parity Rydberg states of Eu I with autoionization detection

Isolated-core-excitation (ICE) scheme and autoionization detection are employed to study the bound Rydberg states of europium atom. The high-lying states with odd parity have been measured using the autoionization detection method with three different excitation paths via 4f⁷6s6p[ ⁸P_5/2], 4f⁷6s6p[ ⁸P_7/2] and 4f⁷6s6p[ ⁸P_9/2] intermediate states, respectively. In this paper the spectra of bound Rydberg states of Eu atom are reported, which cover the energy regions from 36000~cm^-1 to 38250~cm^-1 and from 38900~cm^-1 to 39500 cm^-1. The study provides the information about level energy, the possible J values and relative line intensity as well as the effective principal quantum number n^* for these states. This work not only confirms the previous results of many states, but also discovers 11 new Rydberg states of Eu atom.     

STUDY OF HIGH-LYING EXCITED STATES OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENT Dy BY LASER RESONANCE IONIZATION SPECTROSCOPY

This paper describes the investigation of high-excited states of Dy. which includes the measurement of high Rydberg states and autoionizing states, by means of laser resonance ionization spectroscopy (LRIS). Two high Rydberg series (n>40), 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈) 6sns and 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈) 6snd, have been obtained by exciting the state of 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈) 6s6p (³P⁰₂) ⁵I⁰₈ using two-step laser excitation-electric field ionization method. With the data obtained, we determined the first ionization potential of Dy. It is 47901.7±0.6 cm^-1, that is. about one order more accurate than the results given in the literature. Using the same technique, we found 97 autoionizing states by exciting the state of 4f⁹5d6s(⁷H⁰₇).     

Electronic structure of lanthanide dimers

Relativistic energy-consistent small-core lanthanide pseudopotentials of the Stuttgart-Bonn variety and extended valence basis sets have been used for the investigation of some selected lanthanide dimers with open 4f shell, that is Ce₂, Pr₂ and Gd₂. Comparison is made with results of corresponding previous studies of La₂ and Lu₂ as well as to available experimental data. The trends in the molecular constants of the dimers of the lanthanide series are discussed. The ground state candidates of Ce₂(4f¹4f¹σ² _gπ⁴ _u ¹Σ⁺ _g, ¹Σ^? _u, ³Σ^? _g, ³Σ⁺ _u, ¹6_g, ³6_u) and Pr₂(4f²4f²σ² _gπ⁴ _u ⁵Σ⁺ _g, ⁵Σ^? _u, ⁵10_g) are degenerate within 20cm^?1 and have the same valence subconfiguration σ² _g π⁴ _u, which was previously found to give rise to the La₂(4f⁰4f⁰σ² _gπ⁴ _u ¹Σ⁺ _g) ground state. In the case of Gd₂ the 4f⁷4f⁷σ² _gσ¹ _uσ² _u; ¹⁹Σ^? _g ground state found previously is confirmed. The derived molecular constants are the best theoretical estimates available at present and show a satisfactory agreement with experimental data. Discrepancies in the vibrational constants of La², Ce² and Pr² are shown to be probably related to quite large Ar-matrix shifts.     

Energy level scheme and the effect of magnetic order on the optical transitions in europium chalcogenides

The optical constants of Eu-chalcogenide single crystals have been determined at room temperature for photon energies from 1 to 6 eV. In the same energy range the transmission of thin evaporated films (except for EuO) has been measured with polarized light above and below the magnetic ordering temperature. The observed polarization-dependent splittings of the two main absorption maxima in the region of magnetic order suggest transitions from the 4f⁷-level into the crystal field split 5dt_2g- and 5de_g-states. An attempt has been made to relate the maxima of the absorption coefficient to interband transitions and transitions from the localized 4f-states. With this assumption we derived a consistent energy level scheme of the four Eu-chalcogenides. From the scheme we gained useful information about the width of the 5d-states, the crystal field splitting and the possible type of conductivity. Finally we tried to explain theoretically the splittings observed in the region of magnetic order. For this purpose a one-particle model has been used to calculate the transition probabilities for the 4f⁷?4f⁶(⁷F _J ) 5dt_2g and the 4f⁷?4f⁶(⁷F _J ) 5de_g transition, taking into account an exchange interaction as well as a spin-orbit coupling. Although this simple model can explain the splittings of the excited 4f⁶(⁷F _J ) 5de_g-state, a complete explanation of the effect of magnetic order on the 4f⁶(⁷F _J ) 5dt_2g-state fails up to now.     

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.     

Intensity and bandwidth of multiphonon vibronic transitions of rare-earth ions in crystals

The theory of multiphonon vibronic coupling to electronic transitions is applied in analysing fluorescence spectra of Eu²⁺ in BaFCI, which consist of the 4f⁷(⁶P_7/2,) → 4f⁷(⁸S_7/2) and 4f⁶5d → 4f⁷ transitions, and the 4f⁷-4f⁶5d excitation spectrum of Ce³⁺ in YPO⁴. The 4f electrons are weakly coupled to lattice vibration modes so that only weak one- and two-phonon sidebands are observable in the 4f-4f optical transitions, whereas the electron-phonon coupling is significantly stronger for a 5d electron. Accordingly, intensive multiphonon vibronic transitions overwhelmingly dominate the 4f⁶5d → 4f⁷ spectrum. It is shown that the extended Judd-Ofelt theory for weak vibronic coupling in the framework of the M-process is equivalent to the Huang-Rhys theory for the δ-process. In the analysis of experimental data, contributions from local ligand modes and lattice acoustic modes are separated, and the coupling strength is evaluated, in terms of the Huang-Rhys parameter S, for the 4f-4f and 5d-4f vibronic transitions.     

Photo- and radio-excited luminescence properties of Eu-doped La2O3–Al2O3 based eutectics

Eutectic crystal of 0.5% Eu-doped 30LaAlO₃–70Al₂O₃ (vol %) was prepared by micro-pulling down (μ-PD) technique under nitrogen atmosphere. Being excited at a wavelength of 320 nm, the crystal exhibited intense emission band with a maximum at 450 nm which is corresponding to 4f⁶5d-4f⁷(⁸S_7/2) transitions of Eu²⁺. The decay time and fluorescence quantum efficiency (QE) were determined to be about 475 ns and 60%, respectively. When alpha-ray excited the crystal, both Eu²⁺ 4f⁶5d-4f⁷(⁸S_7/2) and Eu³⁺ 4f⁶-4f⁶ (⁵D₀-⁷F_1,2) emission peaks were observed at 435 nm and 600 nm. By the pulse height spectra, the relative scintillation light yield of the crystal was about 4% compared with that of BGO commercial scintillator.     

Isotopic shifts and the hyperfine structure of the samarium spectral lines at 672 and 686 nm

Spectra of saturated absorption of Sm atomic vapor from the ground state ⁷ F ₀ and the first even metastable level ⁷ F ₁, ε′=292.58 cm^?1 of the 4f ⁶6s ² configuration to the odd level 4_f ⁶(⁷ F)6s6p(³ P ^o)⁹ F ₁ ^o , ε,=14863.85 cm^?1 were recorded. The lines of the isotopic series were identified, and the hyperfine structure of lines in the spectra of isotopes with a nonzero nuclear spin was determined. The relative isotopic shifts and the hyperfine splitting of the even level 4f ⁶6s ²(⁷ F ₁) were determined.     

Eu原子4f76s(7S)np系列自电离谱的观察和测定

用激光三步共振激发方法观察了Eu原子的自电离谱。测定了Eu原子偶宇称,能量在45740.3—47341.0cm^-1范围的75个能级位置,识别了收敛于Eull 4f⁷6s ⁷S₃的4f⁷6s(⁷S)np(n=12—46)的自电离里德伯系列。报道了这一系列在此能量范围的能级位置及量子亏损数据。 关键词：     

钐原子的两步激发共振光电离光谱

采用两步激发共振光电离技术研究了Sm原子的偶宇称高激发态光谱.实验采用了两条激发路线：1)第一束激光的波长固定在478.44nm以便将Sm原子从4f⁶6s²［⁷F₁］态激发至4f⁶6s6p［⁷D₁］态,再用第二束激光使其波长从480nm扫描至530nm,将Sm原子进一步激发至待测的高激发态;2)第一束激光的波长固定在574.8 关键词： Sm原子 光谱 分步激发 共振电离     

Visible superfluorescence from optically pumped europium atoms

We have observed superfluorescence (SF) on five atomic transitions at visible wavelengths 633.58, 635.00, 640.09, 640.61 and 736.22 nm in Doppler broadened gas of europium (Eu) atom. The nanosecond SF pulses were observed by longitudinally pumping Eu vapor column with a pulsed dye laser to upper states 4f⁶5d6s², ⁸D_7/2at 346.79 nm and 4f⁷5d6p, ¹⁰F_5/2at 348.73 nm from the ground state 4f⁷6s², ⁸S_7/2. High optical conversion efficiency ≈10% was measured for these SF transitions. Our experiment deals with the large sample multilevel SF in the regime where the length of the excited column L is greater than the maximum value of the Arecchi-Courtens length (L_c). The observed variation of SF peak intensity (I_fl) and time delay for SF evolution (τ_D) with number of atoms in the excited state (N) resemble theoretically predicted SF scaling laws for transverse excitation, namely I_fl∝N and t_D μ 1/?N\tau_D \propto 1/{\sqrt N} although the experimental condition is similar to the swept excitation. This could be due to the Rabi frequency associated with the pump transition which is comparable to the SF delay time precluding the initiation of SF at different times along the sample and results in transverse (instantaneous) excitation. The experimental τ_D values were found to be in agreement with the quantum mechanical calculations describing SF.     

Frequency dispersion of dielectric coefficients of layered TlGaS<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

Frequency dependence of the dissipation factor tanδ, the permittivity ɛ, and the ac conductivity σ_ac across the layers in the frequency range f=5×10⁴−3×10⁷ Hz was studied in layered TlGaS₂ single crystals. A significant dispersion in tanδ was observed in the frequency range 10⁶−3×10⁷ Hz. In the range of frequencies studied, the permittivity of TlGaS₂ samples varied from 26 to 30. In the frequency range 5×10⁴−10⁶ Hz, the ac conductivity obeyed the f ^0.8 law, whereas for f>10⁶ Hz σ_ac was proportional to f ². It was established that the mechanism of the ac charge transport across the layers in TlGaS₂ single crystals in the frequency range 5×10⁴−10⁶ Hz is hopping over localized states near the Fermi level. Estimations yielded the following values of the parameters: the density of states at the Fermi level N _F=2.1×10¹⁸ eV⁻¹ cm⁻³, the average time of charge carrier hopping between localized states τ=2 μs, and the average hopping distance R=103 ?. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 46, No. 6, 2004, pp. 979–981. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Mustafaeva.     

Preparation and characterization of LiAEAlF6:Eu (AE=Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba) phosphors

Wet chemical synthesis of LiAEAlF₆:Eu (AE=Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba) phosphors is described. Formation of single-phase compounds LiCaAlF₆ and LiSrAlF₆ was confirmed by XRD. LiCaAlF₆:Eu and LiSrAlF₆:Eu phosphors exhibited broadband emission corresponding to intraconfigurational transition 4f⁶5d¹→4f⁷(⁸S_7/2). LiMgAlF₆:Eu exhibits a narrow line emission corresponding to ⁶P_J→⁸S_7/2 transition of 4f⁷ configuration besides the band emission. LiBaAlF₆:Eu, on the other hand, was found to yield predominantly line emission.     

Luminescence spectroscopy of high-energy 4f 11 levels of Er3+ in fluorides

The 4f¹¹ energy levels of Er³⁺ in LiYF₄ in the spectral region 39000–65000 cm^?1 have been studied. The agreement between experimental energy levels, obtained from luminescence excitation spectra, and calculated energy levels is good. Luminescence originating from high-lying energy levels has been investigated. Emission from the states ⁴D_1/2 (～47 200cm^?1), ²F(2)_7/2 (～54700cm^?1) and ²F(2)_5/2 (～63 300cm^?1) is observed. ²F(2)_5/2 emission occurs for Er³⁺ in LaF₃, where the ²F(2)_5/2 level is situated just below the lowest 4f¹⁰5d state, but also for Er³⁺ in LiYF₄, where it lies in between the two lowest 4f¹⁰5d states.     

Analyse von Hyperfeinstrukturen des Eu151, Am241 und einiger 3 d-Elemente mittels „Exchange Polarization“

It is shown how several discrepancies in the optical hfs of the Eu can be understood as consequences of the exchange polarization of the inner and outers-electrons by the spin of the half filled (4f ⁷)-subshell, an effect which should produce additional magnetic fields at the nucleus. Thus from the two different values of the electronic splitting constanta _6s in the two Eu-II ground states the polarization field from the 6s-shell (Δ H _6s ) is determined to be ca. +260 KG, and the formal splitting constantσ (??3 mK) of the (4f ⁷)-subshell yields ca. ?350 KG for the fieldΔ H _(1?5) from the five innern s-shells (n=1?5) in good agreement with the strength of the inner field obtained from recent Mössbauer effect studies.Δ H _(1?5) is deduced to be approximately equal in all sufficiently analysed ground and excited configurations of the neutral and ionised Eu atom ((4f ⁷) 6s, 6p, 5d, 6s ² and 6s 6p). Other elements with half filled subshells (Am, Mn) show similar features in their optical hfs. For Am⁺ ((5f ⁷) 7s) ca. ?2200 KG are found for the inner field (Δ H _(1?6)). For several 3d-elements it was found that the agreement between the calculated polarization fields and those following from experimental results is better than assumed so far.     

Ground-state measurement of Pr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> by photoconductivity

1 at % Pr³⁺-doped Y₂O₃ single-crystal fibers were prepared using a laser-heated pedestal growth method. The emission and excitation spectra of the fibers were measured. The emissions of 4f-4f transitions from ¹ D ₂ to the ³ H ₄ and ³ H ₅ states are found at 620 and 720 nm, respectively. The ³ P ₂, ³ P ₁, ¹ I ₆, and ³ P ₀ 4f-4f absorptions are observed at 456, 472, 482, and 492 nm, respectively. A 4f-5d absorption band is detected at 288 nm. Photoconductivity measurements show that the 4f-5f transition of Pr³⁺ around 285 nm produces a direct photocurrent. Taking the onset of photocurrent to be at 320 nm, the ground state of Pr³⁺ is determined at 1.7 eV above the valence band of the host. The text was submitted by the authors in English.