High resolution spectroscopy of iridium in a hollow cathode discharge

We demonstrate the possibility of performing high resolution laser spectroscopy of iridium atoms produced by sputtering in a hollow cathode discharge. By resolving the hyperfine structure of ultraviolet transitions from the ground state, we measure the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole constants of the 5d ⁷ 6s 6p ⁶ G _11/2 and 5d ⁷ 6s 6p ⁶ F _7/2 excited levels and we obtain accurate values for the isotope shifts. Iridium is also discussed as possibly providing reference spectra in the 243 nm region, close to the wavelength of the 1s–2s two-photon transition of hydrogen.     

Hyperfine structure in 5s 4d 3 D —5snf transitions of87Sr

The hyperfine spectra of the 5s4d ³ D ₁-5s20f, 5s4d ³ D ₂-5s23f, and 5s 4d ³ D ₃-5s32f transitions of⁸⁷Sr (I=9/2) have been measured by collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy. The structure in the upper configurations is highly perturbed by fine structure splitting that is of comparable size to the hyperfine interaction energy. These perturbations can be adequately treated with conventional matrix diagonalization methods, using the 5s-electron magnetic dipole interaction terma _5s and the unperturbed fine structure splittings as input parameters. Additionally, hyperfine constants for the lower 5s4d ³ D configurations, including theA- andB-factors and a separation of the individuals- andd-electron contributions to these factors, are derived.     

Laser and radiofrequency spectroscopy of the 5d 4 6s 6 D multiplet in Ta I

The hyperfine structure (hfs) of¹⁸¹Ta has been investigated using laser radio-frequency double resonance and high resolution laser spectroscopy on collimated atomic beams. The magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine structure coupling constants of the 5d ^{4 6} s 6D _{3/2, 5/2, 7/2, 9/2} metastable states have been determined using radio-frequency spectroscopy. In the 5d ⁴ 6s ⁶ D _1/2 metastable state and the excited 5d ³ 6s 6p ⁴ D _3/2,⁶ D _{5/2, 9/2} as well as the unidentified 28 182.6 cm^–1 and 30 021.2 cm^–1 states, hfs constants have been obtained from high resolution laser spectroscopy. A radio-frequency converter has been developed in order to reach the frequency region 2.7–10 GHz.     

Doppler free “dark resonances” for hyperfine measurements and isotope shifts in Ca+ isotopes in a Paul trap

We have observed dark resonances in theA-type level structure, formed by the 4S_1/2 ground state, the 4P_1/2 excited state and the low lying metastable 3D_3/2 state in the Calcium ion, confined in a Paul radio-frequency trap. These Doppler-free and potentially very narrow resonances were used to determine the magnetic dipole hyperfine interaction constant A for the 4P_1/2 and 3D_3/2 state of⁴³Ca⁺, giving –142(8) MHz and –48.3(1.6) MHz, respectively. From measurements of the P-D (E1) and S-D (E2) transition wavelength in a mixture of⁴³Ca⁺ and⁴⁰Ca⁺ we determined the isotope shifts of these lines.     

On the hyperfine structure and isotope shift of radium

The hyperfine structure and isotope shift of the heaviest known alkaline earth element radium (Z=88) have been studied in both the atomic Ra I and ionic Ra II spectra. The measurements, carried out by on-line collinear fast-beam laser spectroscopy, yield the hyperfine constantsA andB of the 7s and 7p _1/2 states in Ra II, of all states of the excited 7s 7p configuration and the 7s 7d ³ D ₃ state in Ra I. The data allow a consistent evaluation of the nuclear moments for eight odd-A radium isotopes. In particular, a complete analysis of the hyperfine structure of thesp configuration in the two-electron system provides a stringent test of the validity of the semi-empirical modified Breit-Wills theory. It is shown that the effective operator formalism is equivalent, if relativistic correction functions are used to reduce the number of parameters. The semi-empirical hyperfine fields are evaluated and found to agree generally with those from ab-initio calculations. The isotope shifts in thes?p,s ²?sp,sp?sd transitions are analysed semi-empirically and compared with ab-initio calculations. The consistency of the different analyses proves their validity and classifies the spectrum of Ra I as a model case for a simple and clean two-electron spectrum.     

Hyperfine structure measurements in Kr II

The fast ion beam laser technique has been utilized to study the hyperfine structure in the transitions 4d ⁴ D _7/2-5p ⁴ D ₇ ^2/0 at 6420 Å and 4d ⁴ D _7/2-5p ⁴ D ₅ ^2/0 at 6303 Å in singly-charged krypton. The magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine constants have been extracted for the upper levels of the transitions.     

Isotope shift and hyperfine structure measurements in titanium I

High accuracy measurements of hyperfine structure due to⁴⁷Ti and⁴⁹Ti in the 3d ² 4s ² a ³ F ₂?3d ² 4s4p z ⁵ D ₁ absorption line at σ=18482.772 cm^?1 have been performed by use of a Doppler-free experiment, where a beam of titanium atoms is crossed by a CW single mode tunable dye laser. They have allowed for the determination of isotope shifts between⁴⁶Ti,⁴⁷Ti,⁴⁸Ti,⁴⁹Ti and⁵⁰Ti. By use of accurate values of mean square nuclear charge radii for the even isotopes, it has been possible to separate mass shifts from field shifts and to determine accurate values for the mean square nuclear charge radii of⁴⁷Ti and⁴⁹Ti. The field shift presents a marked odd-even staggering.     

Hyperfine structure and isotope shift of some even parity levels in the YbI spectrum

Using laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy the hyperfine structure of the even parity levels 4f ¹⁴6s6d ³ D ₁, 4f ¹⁴ 6s8s ³ S ₁ and 4f ¹³ 5d6s6p (7/2, 5/2)J=1,2,3 as well as of the odd parity level 4f ¹⁴ 6s6p ³ P ₂ in neutral ytterbium has been investigated. The isotope shift of the transitions 4f ¹⁴6s6p ³ P ₀ → 4f ¹⁴ 6s6p ³ D ₁ and 4f ¹⁴ 6s6p ³ P ₂ → 4f ¹⁴ 6s8s ³ S ₁, 4f ¹³ 5d6s6p (7/2, 5/2)J=1,2,3 could be measured with high accuracy. The results for the 4f ¹⁴ 6s6p ³ D ₁ level show a considerable influence of second order effects of the hyperfine interaction. The isotope shifts of the 4f ¹⁴ 6s8s ³ S ₁ and 4f ¹³ 5d6s6p (7/2, 5/2)J=1 levels indicate a possible configuration mixing for these levels.     

Hyperfine structure of Mn II by fast ion beam-laser spectroscopy

We report the first measurements of the hyperfine splitting of the fine structure levels 3d ⁵'4s a ⁵ S ₂ and 3d ⁵ 4p z ⁵ P _1,2,3 ⁰ in singly ionised manganese in a collinear fast ion beam-laser experiment. The ions are excited by the intracavity frequency doubled output of a ring dye laser. The observed linewidth is sufficiently narrow to identify all hyperfine components of each fine structure level.     

Isotope shift measurements in titanium I

The use of an effusive beam of titanium atoms crossed with a CW single-mode tunable dye laser has allowed the high-resolution, Doppler-free study of the isotope shifts between⁵⁰Ti,⁴⁸Ti and⁴⁶Ti, for seven 3d ² 4s ² a³ F _J 3d ² 4s 4p z ⁵ D _J , visible transitions of Ti I. The measurements show without ambiguity the existence of a non-negligible field shift. Using the values of the nuclear radii of titanium (coming from muonic X-ray measurements), it is possible to determine the respective values of the field and mass shifts.     

The 3d states of23Na and7Li: determination of unresolved hyperfine splittings and radiative lifetimes

The electronic transitions from the ground state to the 3d states have been studied for²³Na and⁷Li atoms by two-photon Doppler-free laser spectroscopy. The positions of the resonances are used to determine the unresolved hyperfine structure of the 3d states from which the magnetic-dipole hyperfine interaction constantsA are derived. The results for theA factors are:A(3d ² D _3/2;²³Na)=+527(25) kHz;A(3d ² D _5/2;²³Na)=+108.5(2.4) kHz;A(3d ² D _3/2;⁷Li)=+843(41) kHz;A(3d ² D _5/2;⁷Li)=+343.6(1.0) kHz. For the fine structure intervals fs of the 3d doublets we obtain: fs(3d Na)=-1 494 444(44) kHz and fs(3d Li)=+1 083 936(60) kHz. The linewidths of the resonances are evaluated with respect to the natural lifetimes of the 3d states. For Na the result is τ(3d Na)=19.27(23) ns.     

Hyperfine structure and isotope shift of the 3s-3p transitions of atomic oxygen

Using high-resolution saturation spectroscopy, by means of both double heterostructure and multiple quantum-well AlGaAs diode lasers, we investigate the isotope shifts and the hyperfine structure in the 3s-3p transitions of the triplet and quintet systems of atomic oxygen. From the analysis of the signals from¹⁷O we can deduce precise values for the hyperfine structure magnetic dipole constants. A theoretical analysis allows us to bring into evidence core polarization effects in the hyperfine structure. By heterodyning two frequency locked lasers, we perform a direct frequency measurement of the isotope effect on the³ S ₁→³ P _1,2,0 transitions. From the comparison with similar accuracy data on the corresponding quintet transitions, an upper bound to the size of the nuclear volume effect is given, and precise values for the specific mass contributions are consequently obtained.     

Collision energy dependence of He and Ne capture by C 60 +

The hyperfine structure and the isotope shifts in the optical transition of HfI with λ=5903 Å have been investigated using high resolution laser spectroscopy. The magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine splitting constants of the lower 5d ² 6s ² a ³ F ₃ and upper 5d ² 6s 6p z ⁵ G ₃ ⁰ levels have been determined for the two stable odd hafnium isotopes¹⁷⁷Hf and¹⁷⁹Hf.     

Hyperfine structures and level isotope shifts of then 2 S 1/2 (n=7 – 12)- andn 2 D 3/2,5/2 (n=6 – 10)-levels of203,205Tl measured by atomic beam spectroscopy

Applying atomic beam laser spectroscopy, hyperfine constants as well as level isotope shifts of the (6s ² ns)² S _1/2 levels (n = 7 – 12) and (6s ² nd)² D _3/2,5/2 levels (n = 6 – 10) have been measured in²⁰³Tl and²⁰⁵Tl. Furthermore, some new hyperfine constants and level isotope shifts of the Tl² P _1/2,3/2-states are presented together with corrected results of earlier experiments. The hyperfine splittings have been compared with the predictions of the semiempirical theory. For theD-states a relatively poor agreement between these theoretical predictions and experimental results has been found. Using the experimental level isotope shifts and the δ〈r ²〉 value from muonic X-ray data, results of single-configuration Dirac-Fock calculations have been tested.     

Hyperfine structure investigations in excitedD-states of171Yb and173Yb

The hyperfine structure splittings in the excited 4f ¹⁴6s6d states of¹⁷¹Yb and¹⁷³Yb have been measured. Isotope selection was achieved by stepwise laser excitation of the¹ D ₂ and³ D _{2, 1} states. The³ D ₃ state of¹⁷¹Yb was excited via collisional excitation of an intermediate level. The magnetic and electric hfs coupling constants are given and compared to ab initio values calculated from relativistic self-consistent-field wavefunctions.     

Hyperfine structure measurements of the metastable (3d 6 4s 2)3 H 4, 5, 6 states of57Fe: Configuration interaction in the hyperfine structure of the iron atom

We report the hyperfine structure (hfs) measurement of the metastable (3d ⁶ 4s ²)a ³ H _{4, 5, 6} states of⁵⁷Fe. The kHz-precision of these experimental results together with the hyperfine structure values of (3d ⁶ 4s ²)a ⁵ D _{1, 2, 3, 4}, (3d ⁷ 4s)a ⁵ F _{2, 3, 4, 5}, and (3d ⁷ 4s)a ³ F _{2, 3, 4}, which were measured earlier, allowed to determine a very detailed set of effective radial parameters describing the hfs of these states, using a new parametrization method. This method treats one- and two-body contributions to the hfs separately. In this way configuration interaction effects in the hfs of the⁵⁷Fe atom can be studied in detail and compared with configuration interaction effects in the fine structure of the same atom.     

Isotope Shifts of Nitrogen around 800 nm

The Doppler-limited absorption spectra of ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N atoms were measured around 800 nm using concentration modulation spectroscopy to study their isotope shifts. The nitrogen atoms were generated by discharging molecular nitrogen buffered with helium in a homemade discharge tube. The isotope shifts of four multiplets (3s⁴P_J→3p⁴D_J^o, 3s⁴P_J→3p⁴P_J^o, 3s²D_J→5s²P_J^o, and 3p²P_J^o→5s²D_J^o) were measured and their J-dependent specific mass shifts were observed and discussed.     

Precision measurement of the energy of the 4d 9 5s 2 2 D 5/2 metastable level in Ag I

The energy of the 4d ⁹ 5s ^{2 2} D _5/2 metastable level in Ag I, which is the upper level of the very narrow 5s ² S _1/2 – 4d ⁹ 5s ^{2 2} D _5/2 two-photon transition at 661.2 nm, has been determined from precision measurements of the wavelengths of the 206.1 nm (5s ² S _1/2 – 6p ² P ₃ ^2/0 ) and 547.5 nm (4d ⁹ 5s ^{2 2} D _5/2 – 6p ² P ₃ ^2/0 ) lines emitted from a hollow-cathode discharge. The measured energy of the 4d ⁹ 5s ^{2 2} D _5/2 level, 30 242.286(7) cm^–1, is combined with the known hyperfine splittings and the estimated¹⁰⁷Ag-¹⁰⁹Ag isotope shift to obtain accurate absolute frequencies for the hyperfine components of the 661.2 nm transition. These results should help in the detection of the narrow 661.2 nm two-photon transition, which has been proposed as a new optical frequency standard.     

Emission spectra of Cs2NaTbCl6 and Cs2NaYCl6: Tb3+

The emission spectra of microcrystalline Cs₂NaTbCl₆ and Cs₂Na(Y_0.99Tb_0.01)Cl₆ have been measured at room temperature and at 77 K. The crystal structures of these compounds are face-centered cubic and the terbium (III) ions lie at sites of octahedral (O_h) symmetry surrounded by six chloride ions. Emission is observed from both the ⁵D₃ and ⁵D₄ excited states of Tb³⁺. Assignments have been made for nearly all of the magnetic-dipole transitions split out of the Tb³⁺⁷F₆, ⁷F₅, ⁷F₄, ⁷F₃, ⁷F₂, ⁷F₁ ← ⁵D₄ and ⁷F₄, ⁷F₂ ← ⁵D₃ transitions. These assignments are based on the calculated transition energies and relative magnetic-dipole strengths and intensities obtained from a weak-field crystal-field analysis of octahedral TbCl₆^3? units. Magnetic-dipole lines dominate the spectra for transitions of ΔJ = ±1 free-ion parentage, whereas both magnetic-dipole lines and vibronically induced electric-dipole lines contribute significantly to the emission intensities of the ΔJ = 0, ±2 transitions. The crystal-field sub-levels of both ⁵D₃ and ⁵D₄ appear to reach a Boltzmann thermal equilibrium prior to emission. Emission from ⁵D₃ is partially quenched in going from low temperature to high temperature and in going from Cs₂NaYCl₆: Tb³⁺ (1%) to Cs₂NaTbCl₆.This study has led to the identification and assignment of nearly all of the pure magnetic-dipole transitions split out of the Tb³⁺⁷F₆, ⁷F₅, ⁷F₄, ⁷F₃, ⁷F₂, ⁷F₁ ← ⁵D₄ and ⁷F₄, ⁷F₂ ← ⁵D₃ transitions in crystal-line Cs₂NaTbCl₆. The assignments were based on calculated transition energies and relative magnetic-dipole strengths (and intensities) obtained from a (weak-field) crystal-field analysis of octahedral (O_h) TbCl₆^3? clusters. Excellent agreement between the calculated and observed relative intensities of the magnetic-dipole lines was achieved by assuming a Boltzmann equilibrated set of crystal-field sub-levels for both the ⁵D₄ and ⁵D₃ emitting states. Furthermore, the experimental results suggest that ⁵D₄ ← ⁵D₃ relaxation is temperature-dependent.The energy levels calculated and displayed in table 1 appear to be qualitatively correct and are in semiquantitative agreement with the emission results (as interpreted in section 4). Calculated and observed transition energies for the assigned magnetic-dipole transitions generally agree to within 0.2%.One of the most remarkable features of the emission spectra obtained on Cs₂NaTbCl₆ is the absence of any vibrational structure in the ΔJ = ± 1 transitions (⁷F₆, ⁷F₃ ← ⁵D₄ and ⁷F₄, ⁷F₂ ← ⁵D₃), and the presence of extensive vibrational structure in the ΔJ = O, ±2 transitions (⁷F₆, ⁷F₄, ⁷F₂ ← ⁵D₄). If other than OO vibronic transitions do contribute to the ΔJ = ±1 emissions, their intensities must be at least two or three orders-of-magnitude weaker than the OO magnetic-dipole lines. Vibronically induced electric-dipole transitions appear, however, to make substantial contributions to the ⁷F₆, ⁷F₄, ⁷F₂ ← ⁵D₄ emission spectra. A clear-cut theoretical explanation for the absence of vibrational structure in the ΔJ = ±1 transitions is not readily apparent. We are presently examining this problem in greater detail.