Lifetime measurements of metastable states in CRYRING

Collinear ion beam laser spectroscopy has been utilized in the ion storage ring CRYRING in order to measure lifetimes of metastable states in singly charged ions. The laser light has been used for selective probing of the population decay of individual fine structure or hyperfine structure states. With the use of a mechanical shutter, time resolved studies could be performed with millisecond resolution. In another experiment, the cw laser light was used to optically pump stored ions from the ground state into a specific metastable state. With most of the stored ions in the metastable state, direct observation of the decay of the forbidden transition from the metastable state to the ground state could be observed passively. Measurements of metastable lifetimes in Ca⁺, Sr⁺, Xe⁺ and Eu⁺ will be discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lifetime measurements for metastable He like ions

We present work in progress on the development of a new technique for measurements of μs lifetimes of metastable excited states of He like ions. The key element in this new technique is an electrostatic storage device for ions with keV energies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lifetime measurements of Stark states of sodium

Lifetimes of n = 17, m = 0 Stark-manifold states of Na atoms have been measured in the static electric fields ranged from 1250 to 2000 V/cm using delayed electric field ionization (DEFI). The observed lifetimes of the Stark-manifold states are of the same order of magnitude (10⁻⁶ sec). The influences of applied fields and blackbody radiation on the determination of the lifetimes were discussed.     

Lifetime measurements of some excited DyI states

The method of single-photon-counting, using the multichannel analyser and the time-amplitude-converter, was applied to lifetime measurements of some atomic levels of neutral Dysprosium. The different energy levels were populated by nitrogen-lasers pumped dye-lasers employing excitation by either one or two photons. Because of the lack of experimental data concerning lifetime measurements, the present results were compared with theA-values theoretically calculated by Cowan, particularly for the levels arising from the excited state configuration 4f ¹⁰6s 6p. The spectroscopic properties of this configuration allow such a comparison of data to be made.     

Lifetime measurements on excited states in100Rh

Lifetime measurements of three excited states in¹⁰⁰Rh populated by the decay of¹⁰⁰Pd have been carried out. A two parameter delayedγ-γ-coincidence experiment using an intrinsic Ge and a plastic scintillation detector resulted in the following values:T _1/2(32.72 keV,¹⁰⁰Rh)=(27.6 ±0.6) nsT _1/2(74.8keV,¹⁰⁰Rh)=(213.6±2) nsT _1/2(158.8 keV,¹⁰⁰Rh)<0.5 ns. For the levels at 32.72 keV and 158.8 keV no former values are known.     

Hyperfine structure measurements in metastable states of165Ho

The hyperfine structure constants and the electronic g _J factor of the state 4f ¹¹ 6s ^{2 4} I _11/2 belonging to the holmium ground multiplet have been measured using the atomic beam magnetic resonance technique combined with a state-selective laser-induced detection of the resonant atoms. By the same method the g _J factor of the level 4f ¹¹6s ²⁴ I _9/2 was determined, while the hyperfine structures of this metastable state and of two high-lying even parity states have been investigated by high resolution laser spectroscopy. The results for the experimentalA andB factors of all four members of the ground multiplet allow a least-squares evaluation of the three magnetic dipole and the three electric quadrupole effective radial parameters for the configuration 4f ¹¹ 6s ² of holmium, yielding an accurate value for the spectroscopic nuclear electric quadrupole moment:Q _hfs(¹⁶⁵Ho)=2.716(9)b (uncorrected for quadrupole shielding). From a comparison to the quadrupole moments measured in mesic holmium atoms the shielding factor could be estimated.     

Optogalvanic spectroscopy of metastable states in Yb+

The metastable ²F_7/2 and ²D_3/2 states of Yb⁺ are of interest for applications in metrology and quantum information and also act as dark states in laser cooling. These metastable states are commonly repumped to the ground state via the 638.6 nm ²F_7/2–¹D[5/2]_5/2 and 935.2?nm ²D_3/2–³D[3/2]_1/2 transitions. We have performed optogalvanic spectroscopy of these transitions in Yb⁺ ions generated in a discharge. We measure the pressure broadening coefficient for the 638.6 nm transition to be 70±10?MHz?mbar^?1. We place an upper bound of 375 MHz/nucleon on the 638.6 nm isotope splitting and show that our observations are consistent with theory for the hyperfine splitting. Our measurements of the 935.2 nm transition extend those made by Sugiyama et al., showing well-resolved isotope and hyperfine splitting (Sugiyama and Yoda in IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 44: 140, 1995). We obtain high signal-to-noise, sufficient for laser stabilisation applications (Streed et al. in Appl. Phys. Lett. 93: 071103, 2008).     

Lifetime measurements of ultrashort-lived excited states in Be-like ions

We propose to measure the lifetime of short-lived excited states in highly charged ions by pump-probe experiments. Utilizing two synchronized and delayed Femtosecond pulses allows accessing these lifetimes with Femtosecond precision. Such measurements could provide sensitive tests of state-of-the art atomic structure calculations beyond the capabilities of established methods.     

High precision measurements of the hyperfine structure of seven metastable atomic states of57Fe by laser-Rf double-resonance

The hyperfine structure of the metastable atomic states (3d ⁷4s)⁵ F _2,3,4,5 and (3d ⁷ 4s)³ F _2,3,4 of⁵⁷Fe has been measured using theABMR- LIRF method (atomic beam magnetic resonance detected by laser induced resonance fluorescence). From these measurements the following hfs constantsA of the magnetic dipole interaction have been obtained (corrected for second order effects):A(⁵ F ₂)=55.994(7) MHzA(⁵ F ₃)=69.632(5) MHzA(⁵ F ₄)=78.435(4) MHzA(⁵ F ₅)=87.246(3) MHzA(³ F ₂)=143.328(4) MHzA(³ F ₃)=50.602(10) MHzA(³ F ₄)=13.456(5) MHz     

Lifetime of metastable fluorine atoms

For laser collimation of neutral F atoms, a resonance transition cycle between the metastable and the upper excited states (3s⁴ P _5/2?3p⁴ D ⁰ _7/2) can be used as a two-level closed system. We have determined the lifetime of the metastable state (3s⁴ P _5/2) in F atoms by measuring the decay curve of the fluorescence intensity as a function of distance from the plasma source. Combining the measured velocity of F radicals from the Doppler shift of the fluorescence peak, we have obtained the lifetime of the F metastable state as 3.7±0.5 μs. With this short metastable lifetime of F radicals, the simple Doppler cooling method using spontaneous light force is not practical for laser collimation of F radicals. Use of stimulated light force may be necessary to collimate F radical beams in a short distance. Received: 4 July 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000     

Lifetime measurements of the high spin yrast states in 128Ce

Lifetime measurements of the high spin states in the yrast band of ¹²⁸Ce were performed using the Doppler shift attenuation method in connection with the reaction ¹⁰⁰Ru(³²S, 2p2n) ¹²⁸Ce at incident energy of 141 MeV. In the vicinity of the band crossing, the previously reported anomalously high B(E2) value was not observed. The gross behavior of the normalized transition strength is approximate to symmetric rotor. It is confirmed that the trend of increase in collectivity with decreasing neutron number, which was indicated in the previous studies on ^{130, 132, 134}Ce, continues in ¹²⁸Ce. The value of quadrupole deformation parameter β₂ deduced from the measured lifetimes is in good agreement with the theoretical calculation using a cranking model based on a non-axially deformed Woods-Saxon potential.     

Lifetime measurements of the high spin yrast states in128Ce

Lifetime measurements of the high spin states in the yrast band of¹²⁸Ce were performed using the Doppler shift attenuation method in connection with the reaction¹⁰⁰Ru(³²S, 2p2n)¹²⁸Ce at incident energy of 141 MeV. In the vicinity of the band crossing, the previously reported anomalously highB(E2) value was not observed. The gross behavior of the normalized transition strength is approximate to symmetric rotor. It is confirmed that the trend of increase in collectivity with decreasing neutron number, which was indicated in the previous studies on^130,132,134Ce, continues in¹²⁸Ce. The value of quadrupole deformation parameterβ ₂ deduced from the measured lifetimes is in good agreement with the theoretical calculation using a cranking model based on a non-axially deformed Woods-Saxon potential.     

Lifetime measurements in the Fe I spectrum using tunable dye laser excitation

Radiative lifetimes of single fine structure levels of the multiplets 3d⁶ 4s(a⁶ D)4p z⁵ D ⁰ and 3d⁷ (a⁴ F)4py ⁵F⁰ of the FeI spectrum were measured. The different levels were excited by a tunable dye laser which was pumped by a pulsed nitrogen laser. The exponential decay of the fluorescence was measured directly.     

Lifetime measurements in the Fe I-spectrum using stepwise excitation by dye lasers

Using stepwise excitation by means of two nitrogen laser-pumped dye lasers the 3d ⁶ 4s(a ⁶ D) 4de ⁵ G ₆ level of Fe I at 50 523 cm^?1 was populated and its lifetime was determined from the decay of the subsequent fluorescence.     

Lifetime of metastable magnesium atoms in superfluid helium

The metastable 3s3p³P_{0, 1, 2} states of the magnesium atom immersed into superfluid helium have been investigated. Absorption-fluorescence measurements were carried out to monitor the population of the³P₀,³P₁ and³P₂ level as a function of time. The population of these levels was found to decrease exponentially with a constant of =15±2 ms. This is about three times as long as the vacuum lifetime of the³P₁ level. In the resonant excitation band of the 3s3p³P states to the 3s4s³S state a blueshift of 70 nm compared to the emission and a large broadening were detected. The³P₂ and³P₀ states are not at all metastable any more. Additionally the weak intercombination transition of the³P₁ state to the¹S₀ ground state was investigated by monitoring this emission line as a function of time and of wavelength. The experiments resulted in the same exponential decay time as the excitation measurement. This outcome indicates a rather effective fine structure mixing of the considered Mg states in superfluid helium. Moreover, this raises the question whether common atomic quantum numbers are conserved and the selection rules are still valid.     

Phase-locked laser system for a metastable states qubit in 40 Ca+

We describe the development of a phase-locked laser system tailored to an ion-trap-based quantum information processor with (40)Ca(+). Laser outputs from an extended cavity diode laser and a Ti:sapphire laser with output laser wavelengths of approximately 850 and 854 nm, respectively, were phase locked and used to excite a Raman transition between the D(3/2) and D(5/2) metastable states qubit. Development and the performance of the laser system are described. We also compare the characteristics and the benefits of the developed qubit coupling with those in the conventional approaches.     

Lifetime measurements of spherical and deformed states in 1f7/2 nuclei

Lifetimes have been determined using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method in the N ≈ Z nuclei ⁴⁶V and ⁴⁸V, populated with the reaction ²⁸Si on ²⁴Mg at 115 MeV and ²⁴Mg on ²⁸Si at 100 MeV using Au and Pb backed targets. The coexistence of spherical and deformed states in the middle of the 1f_7/2 shell is discussed. The B(E2) and B(M1) reduced rates agree very well with large scale shell model predictions.     

钇原子亚稳态寿命的测量

利用基态原子无穷长的寿命以及亚稳态原子在飞行过程中的衰减,比较由激光感应荧光法测量到的钇原子束基态和亚稳态的速度分布曲线,经过拟合处理计算,得到钇原子亚稳态a~2D_(5/2)的寿命为(0.8±0.2)ms.     

Electronic excitation of Ar atoms to metastable states and from metastable to higher states

The formation of the metastable states 3p ⁵4s of the Ar atom by an electron impact and the electronic excitation from these states to the higher levels 3p ⁵4p ArI are investigated in detail. The electronic excitation cross sections are determined based on a previously proposed approach to generalization of experimental and theoretical results. The method proposed consists in interpolation over the entire set of cross sections for each of the investigated levels of the Ar atom (measured by us previously or taken from the literature) using the four-parameter approximation of the dependences of the cross sections on the energy of incident electrons.