Constraining the variation of fundamental constants using 18 cm OH lines

We describe a new technique to estimate variations in the fundamental constants using 18 cm OH absorption lines, with the advantage that all lines arise in the same species, allowing a clean comparison between the measured redshifts. In conjunction with one additional transition, it is possible to simultaneously measure changes in alpha, g(p), and y identical with m(e)/m(p). We use the 1665 and 1667 MHz line redshifts in conjunction with those of HI 21 cm and mm-wave molecular absorption in a gravitational lens at z approximately 0.68 to constrain changes in the three parameters over the redshift range 0相似文献   

Conjugate 18 cm OH satellite lines at a cosmological distance

We have detected the two 18 cm OH satellite lines from the z approximately 0.247 source PKS1413+135, the 1720 MHz line in emission and the 1612 MHz line in absorption. The 1720 MHz luminosity is L(OH) approximately 354L (center dot in circle), more than an order of magnitude larger than that of any other known 1720 MHz maser. The profiles of the two satellite lines are conjugate, implying that they arise in the same gas. This allows us to test for any changes in the values of fundamental constants without being affected by systematic uncertainties arising from relative motions between the gas clouds in which the different lines arise. Our data constrain changes in G identical with g(p)[alpha(2)/y](1.849), where y identical with m(e)/m(p); we find DeltaG/G=2.2+/-3.8 x 10(-5), consistent with no changes in alpha, g(p), and y.     

Constraints on changes in fundamental constants from a cosmologically distant OH absorber or emitter

We have detected the four 18 cm OH lines from the z approximaetely 0.765 gravitational lens toward PMN J0134-0931. The 1612 and 1720 MHz lines are in conjugate absorption and emission, providing a laboratory to test the evolution of fundamental constants over a large lookback time. We compare the HI and OH main line absorption redshifts of the different components in the z approximately 0.765 absorber and the z approximately 0.685 lens toward B0218 + 357 to place stringent constraints on changes in F triple-bond g(p)[alpha(2)/mu](1.57). We obtain [DeltaF/F] = (0.44 +/- 0.36(stat) +/- 1.0(sys)t) x 10(-5), consistent with no evolution over the redshift range 0 < z < or = 0.7. The measurements have a 2sigma sensitivity of [Deltaalpha/alpha] < 6.7 x 10(-6) or [Deltamu/mu] < 1.4 x 10(-5) to fractional changes in alpha and mu over a period of approximately 6.5 G yr, half the age of the Universe. These are among the most sensitive constraints on changes in mu.     

The 5V(OH) Overtone Transition of HDO

The absorption spectrum of HDO has been recorded by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy in the 16 540-17 055 cm(-1) spectral region corresponding to the 5nu(3) band centered at 16 920 cm(-1). The (0 0 5) vibrational state is found to be mostly isolated from the nearby rovibrational states. The corresponding rovibrational transitions were analyzed and fitted in the frame of the effective rotational Hamiltonian model in Pade-Borel approximants form. The spectroscopic parameters retrieved from the fitting reproduce 100 of the 109 determined energy levels with the root-mean-square deviation of 0.0072 cm(-1), close to the experimental accuracy. From the integrated relative intensities of a- and b-type transitions, the angle between the transition moment and the OH bond is estimated to be 46.4 degrees. This value is consistent with an increasing tilt of the transition dipole moment, away from the OH bond, when the OH stretching is excited. The evolution of the orientation of the transition dipole moment versus the vibrational excitation is then compared for the OH and OD overtone bands. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Low-temperature dynamics of amorphous polymers and evolution over time of spectra of single impurity molecules: I. Experiment

The optical dynamics of a doped amorphous system, tetra-tert-butylterrylene in amorphous polyisobutylene, has been experimentally studied by the spectra of single impurity molecules measured at temperatures of 2, 4.5, 7, and 15 K. The study of the temporal evolution of the fluorescence excitation spectra of the molecules under consideration made it possible to unambiguously establish the individual identity of the spectra of particular molecules and to analyze their multiplet structure. Repeated scanning of a selected spectral range with subsequent summation of the data made it possible to considerably reduce the errors that arise upon single scanning of the spectra of single molecules. The majority of the spectral trails detected were in agreement with the model of two-level systems. Jumps of spectral lines due to transitions in such systems were observed at all temperatures.     

LaseRitz: Far-Infrared Laser Line Assignment and Prediction by the Ritz Combination Principle, with Application to Methanol and Hydrazine

A "LaseRitz" program is described for the systematic assignment and prediction of far-infrared laser (FIRL) transitions for a given molecule, such as methanol or hydrazine, which can be generated by optical pumping with known laser lines. The input data set for the program consists of identified molecular energy levels in ground and excited vibrational states, as compiled by our Ritz assignment program from the analysis of infrared (IR) bands and the FIR ground state spectrum. The program scans the data set for appropriate IR matches with an input list of laser pump lines for CO(2), N(2)O, etc., and generates an output table of all possible FIRL lines consistent with the molecular selection rules and lying within a prescribed wavenumber range. Initial tests on CH(3)OH have led to three likely new FIRL assignments; for N(2)H(4), assignments have been found for 14 new FIRL transition systems and verified for five others. Lists have been produced (deposited as supplementary data with the JMS archive reached at www.idealibrary.com or available on request from the authors) of CH(3)OH and N(2)H(4) FIRL lines potentially accessible by optical pumping with regular, sequence-band, hot-band, and isotopic CO(2) lines, plus N(2)O lines for N(2)H(4). The systematic approach with the LaseRitz program is more global and rigorous than earlier line-by-line studies, permitting calculation of all FIRL wavenumbers to spectroscopic accuracy. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Raman磁共振谱中强单量子信号的压抑

通常单量子信号的强度在Raman磁共振谱中要比其它多量子信号的强度大得多,因而易引起接收机饱和,使信号发生变形,不利于多量子信号的检测,因此压抑强的单量子峰是必要的.积算符理论分析表明,异核体系Raman磁共振谱的单,多量子峰的共振频率及其信号强度关于频偏满足对称关系:当频偏由正变为负时,单量子信号的强度亦随之改变了符号.因此,对正负频偏(数值相等)的两次Raman磁共振实验的FID信号进行累加,就可压抑强的单量子峰,而对于多量子峰则在大的频偏条件下不会相互抵消.因此,这样的实验累加可以保持多量子信号的强度而压抑掉强的单量子峰.作为实验验证,我们给出了异核AX_n体系(CHCl₃,CH₂Cl₂,CH₃OH)的按上述正负频偏循环累加采样方法得到Raman磁共振¹³C实验谱.实验结果同理论预言完全一致.     

Cold molecule spectroscopy for constraining the evolution of the fine structure constant

We report precise measurements of ground-state, Lambda-doublet microwave transitions in the hydroxyl radical molecule (OH). Utilizing slow, cold molecules produced by a Stark decelerator we have improved over the precision of the previous best measurement 25-fold for the F'=2-->F=2 transition, yielding (1 667 358 996 +/- 4)Hz, and by tenfold for the F'=1-->F=1 transition, yielding (1 665 401 803 +/-12)Hz. Comparing these laboratory frequencies to those from OH megamasers in interstellar space will allow a sensitivity of 1 ppm for Delta(alpha/alpha) over approximately 10(10) yr.     

IR absorption measurements and new FIR emission lines in CH3OH by use of a frequency-tunable CW waveguide CO2 laser

The IR absorption in CH₃OH in the vicinity of CO₂ laser lines has been measured quantitatively by use of a 300 MHz tunable waveguide CO₂ laser with output powers of about 3 W. Information on frequency offsets from the CO₂ line centers, small signal and saturated absorption coefficients of FIR laser pump transitions is obtained. Some stronger pump transitions with frequency offsets larger than 50 MHz gave rise to the observation of 8 new FIR emission lines with wavelengths from 43 to 125 μm.     

New laser lines from CHD2OH methanol deuterated isotope

Through the optical pump technique we have reinvestigated the CHD₂OH molecule as a source of far-infrared (FIR) laser lines using for the first time a CO₂ laser lasing on regular, hot, and sequence bands. As a consequence, we present here spectroscopic data of 16 new FIR laser transitions from this molecule. Furthermore, we also present a catalogue of all FIR laser lines generated from CHD₂OH. Received: 13 July 2001 / Revised version: 25 October 2001 / Published online: 14 May 2002     

Rotation of molecular hydrogen in Si: unambiguous identification of ortho-H(2) and para-D(2)

The 3618.4 and 2642.6 cm(-1) infrared absorption lines of interstitial H(2) and D(2) in silicon have been studied under applied uniaxial stresses. The resulting splittings and their small dependence on isotope establish that H(2) in Si is a nearly free rotor and that these lines arise from vibrational transitions between rovibrational states with rotational quantum number J = 1 (T(2) in T(d) symmetry) for ortho-H(2) and para-D(2).     

Sub-millimeter wave spectroscopy of CHD2OH: a-type and asymmetry induced c-type transitions in the lowest three torsional sub-levels

The sub-millimeter wave (SMMW) spectral measurements using a fast scan backward wave oscillator based spectrometer have been carried out for asymmetrically deuterated methanol CHD₂OH (Methanol-D₂). Transition frequencies have an estimated uncertainty of about ±50 kHz. Albeit the complexity in the spectra, assignments were possible for a large number of a-type (ΔK = 0) transitions. In the course of the assignment process a strong c-type (ΔK = 1) Q-branch connecting two states of different symmetry species has been identified. This Q-branch assignment is significant because it is forbidden in the normal parent species CH₃OH. It becomes allowed in the current species due to the effects of the asymmetry introduced by the off-axis deuterium in the hindering potential to the internal rotation in the molecule. The assignments are rigorously confirmed using combination relations which required the measurement of some other related lines. To our knowledge this is the first time such symmetry breaking transitions are reported in CHD₂OH and in fact this is the first time the SMMW spectrum of CHD₂OH is being reported. Detailed spectral study of this molecule in the IR and FIR regions is in progress and will be reported elsewhere. Detailed study of the identification optically pumped FIR laser line is underway.     

Dephasing of spin echoes by multiple heteronuclear dipolar interactions in rotational echo double resonance NMR experiments

The application of rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for accurate distance measurements has thus far been largely restricted to isolated heteronuclear two-spin systems. In the present paper, the informational content of REDOR curves is explored for systems characterized by multi-spin interactions. To this end, numerical REDOR simulations are presented for cases in which single observe spins S are dipolarly coupled to groups of spins I in distinct geometries. To develop the utility of REDOR for characterizing dipolar couplings in unknown and/or ill-defined geometries, the validity ranges and systematic errors of certain analytical approximations are studied. In the limit of short dipolar evolution times where 0 < deltaS/S0 < or = 0.2 to 0.3, the REDOR difference signal intensity increases approximately proportional to the square of the dipolar evolution time. Here, the curvature depends simply on the second moment M2 characterizing the overall strength of the heterodipolar coupling, irrespective of specific molecular geometries. Fitting experimental REDOR data in this manner produces slight systematic underestimates of M2. However, these errors tend to be counterbalanced by additional systematic errors made by neglecting weak couplings to more remote spins and distribution effects caused by disorder. Based on these findings, the results suggest a convenient method of obtaining site-resolved second moment information in disordered materials.     

From inherent correlation to constrained measurement: Model-assisted calibration in MBMS experiments

Synchrotron-based molecular-beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) can provide detailed species-resolved information to help develop, validate and optimize combustion kinetic models. While quantification of stable species can be achieved within 30% uncertainty, the measured mole fractions of reactive intermediates often have large systematic errors, mainly due to the large uncertainties associated with estimated photoionization cross sections. These measurements are therefore less effective in improving the model accuracy, and it remains a challenge to make full use of those data for important reactive intermediates with relatively large uncertainties. In the present work, we propose a model-assisted calibration method to reduce the uncertainty of the measurements for those reactive species in the MBMS experiments. The method takes advantage of the inherent correlation of the systematic uncertainty in the MBMS measurements and uses the accurate model predictions to calibrate the correlated experimental data. By global uncertainty analysis, the kinetic model for the methanol/O₂ flame was analyzed to select the optimal experimental conditions for which the model prediction of the hydroxymethyl radical (CH₂OH) has the smallest uncertainty. Then the correlation factor for the systematic uncertainty is determined by analyzing the new measurement and the model prediction under the designed condition. The correlation factor determined has been successfully used to calibrate the peak mole fraction of the CH₂OH radical in a laminar premixed methanol flame, reported earlier.     

Intergalactic Plasma

Radio astronomy observations at 144-m wavelength suggest a plasma filling intergalactic space. This plasma may have one electron and proton pair per 100 cm3. The plasma radiates hectometer waves by free-free transitions. The energy of electrons is replenished from visible light. It interacts with electrons by compton transitions. Accordingly, light tires as it travels through intergalactic space. Such is manifest by a shift in spectral lines toward the red proportional to distance. There is no need for an expanding universe.     

Electric field effects on an optically-pumped HCOOH FIR laser and Zeeman laser theory

Electric field effects have been investigated on the output power of six far-infrared (FIR) laser lines from H¹²COOH optically-pumped by a CO₂ laser with its polarization arranged perpendicular to the Stark field. Optoacoustic signals observed on the pump lines were hardly affected by the applied electric field up to 0.6 kV/cm. By neglecting the electric field effects on the pump transitions, Zeeman laser theory has been applied to the FIR laser transitions. Numerical calculation predicts the observed FIR output power as a function of electric field. Experessions for oscillation frequency and intensity in homogeneous limit are given, which may be applicable to any FIR Stark laser so far as the pump transition is free from electric field effects.     

Saturated absorption Stark spectroscopy of CH3OH with CO2 lasers

The vibration-torsion-rotation spectrum of CH₃OH has been studied by saturated absorption spectroscopy in applied electric fields up to 20 kV/cm, using ¹²C¹⁶O₂ and ¹²C¹⁶O₂ lasers. Frequency offsets for 129 absorption lines were measured relative to the frequency of a fluorescence stabilized reference laser with an accuracy of ±0.5 MHz for 75 lines inside the ±40 MHz tuning range and 2–5% for lines located up to 1.2 GHz outside the tuning range, but Stark tuned into resonance. For 36 lines we obtained fully-resolved Stark spectra, allowing determination of both lower and upper state K. Using this information in combination with information available from optically-pumped FIR laser emission, a total of 44 lines were completely assigned as transitions involving torsional n = 0, 1, 2 and 3 states of the CO stretch. Certain states belonging to n = 1 displayed an anomalous Stark effect which is at present not understood.     

238Pu激励下的Ne光谱和Ne2^＋复合离解

应用自制的单光子计算装置系统地测量了２３８Ｐｕ激励下的Ｎｅ光谱，辨认出Ｎｅ谱线３３条，其中３１条与电激盛的结果一致，而６６４．０ｎｍ和７１１．６ｎｍ两条谱线在电激励条件下未见报道。根据原子分子反应静力学原理，对实验得到玻耳兹曼图进行了分析，提出了实现核泵浦Ｎｅ激光的复合离解反转机制。     

Multi-species detection using multi-mode absorption spectroscopy (MUMAS)

The detection of multiple species using a single laser and single detector employing multi-mode absorption spectroscopy (MUMAS) is reported. An in-house constructed, diode-pumped, Er:Yb:glass micro-laser operating at 1,565 nm with 10 modes separated by 18 GHz was used to record MUMAS signals in a gas mixture containing C₂H₂, N₂O and CO. The components of the mixture were detected simultaneously by identifying multiple transitions in each of the species. By using temperature- and pressure-dependent modelled spectral fits to the data, partial pressures of each species in the mixture were determined with an uncertainty of ±2 %.     

The design of a Λ-HFS magnetometer

The design of a new quantum magnetometer for geomagnetic fields, an outgrowth of the idea of the so-called HFS magnetometer that uses microwave transitions between hyperfine sublevels of alkaline atoms, is presented. In contrast to the ordinary HFS magnetometer, which measures the frequency difference of two independent transitions, the new Λ-HFS magnetometer is based on the excitation of two transitions with a common level. The design under discussion retains the principal advantages of the prototype (negligible systematic errors and the absence of dead zones for a single sensor), with the electronic circuits being simplified significantly and the requirements on the short-term frequency stability of the reference oscillator being relaxed substantially. An analysis of the new scheme is based on the solution of the equation for the density matrix of a multilevel system without constraints on the power of the microwave fields.