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.     

Optical studies of atoms and ions in superfluid helium using a ccd-camera system

The spectroscopic study ions and atoms immersed into liquid helium can contribute to the understanding of the structure of pointlike defects in helium and their interaction with the superfluid phase as well. Ions and atoms serve as microprobes in the form of so calledbubble orsnowball type defects in the quantum fluid. The optical emission of these structures is recorded. From the optical spectra of previous experiments the influence of the surrounding helium on the electronic configuration of the impurity atoms or ions was examined. In this experiment the light emitted from the defect atoms is observed by a camera. The pictures obtained yield information about the distribution and the motion of the defect particles in the superfluid. As an example the fluorescence light resulting from the recombination of magnesium, barium and thallium ions with excess electrons in superfluid helium was recorded.     

Atoms and ions in superfluid helium

Optical spectra of atomic impurities in liquid helium have been investigated. Comparison is made between the wavelength of the free atomic and ionic lines and those in the liquid helium matrix. Simultaneously, the line width and a possible asymmetry is recorded. Presence and absence of radiative transitions depend on the species of the atom implanted in the quantum fluid. The absence of any optical transitions from states lying as low as 1,8 eV below the ionization limit will be explained in this paper.     

Optical properties of impurity atoms in pressurized superfluid helium

We report on the optical properties of alkali atoms (Cs and Rb) in the pressurized superfluid helium. We observed excitation and emission spectra at various pressures from the saturated vapor pressure to about 25 atm. The theoretical calculations on the basis of the atomic bubble model have also been worked out. The qualitative agreement between the theoretical and experimental results with respect to the peak shift, the linewidth, and their pressure dependence is achieved in the framework of the spherical atomic bubble model. TheD ₂ excitation spectra with the double peaks are interpreted qualitatively in terms of the Jahn-Teller effect, indicating the existence of the nontotally symmetrical density distribution of the surrounding helium atoms.     

Measurement of L X-Ray Intensity Ratios for^92U and ^90Th Elements Using Photoionization in an External Magnetic Field

L x-ray intensity ratios Le/Lγ, Lα/L7 and Lβ/Lγ for ^92U and ^90Th are measured by using 59.5keV incident photon energy at 110° and 125° scattering angles. The samples are located in the external magnetic field of intensities ±0.15T, ±0.30T, ±0.45T, ±0.60T and ±0.75T. The experimental results obtained for B = 0 are compared with the theoretical values calculated using Scofield＇s tables based on the Hartree Slater theory. The contribution to the alignment of the external magnetic field is discussed. It is observed that the L x-ray intensity ratios decrease with the increasing magnetic field intensity.     

Optical emission spectroscopic studies on laser ablated TiO2 plasma

Optical emission spectroscopic investigations of the plasma produced during Nd:YAG laser ablation of sintered TiO₂ targets, in oxygen and argon gas environments are reported. The spatial variations of electron temperature (T_e) and electron number density (N_e) are studied. The effect of oxygen/argon pressure on electron temperature (T_e) and electron number density (N_e) is presented. The kinematics of the emitted particles and expansion of plume edge are discussed. Spatio-temporal variations of various species in TiO₂ plasma were recorded and corresponding velocities were calculated. The effect of oxygen pressure on intensity of neutral/ion species and their corresponding velocities is also reported.     

Spectroscopic studies on Yb+ ions in liquid helium

An emission spectrum of the - (D1) transition and excitation spectra of the - (J=1/2 (D1) and 3/2 (D2)) transitions of Yb⁺ ions in liquid helium have been observed by means of a laser-induced fluorescence method. It has been found that all these spectra are blue-shifted from the ones in the free space, and also that the D2 excitation spectrum has double peaks. To understand these spectra, theoretical calculations have also been carried out based on a vibrating bubble model, in which the bubble surface is assumed to vibrate in the spherical (breathing), dipolar and quadrupolar modes. As a result, it has been found that the blue shifts are well understood with this bubble model, and also that the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect due to the quadrupole vibration of the bubble plays an important role for the double-peaked profile of the D2 excitation spectrum. Received 27 December 1999 and Received in final form 31 July 2000     

Static and dynamical distortions of helium clusters

We examine the effects of impurities (doping) and rotational excitation on the structural and energetic properties of helium clusters. Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) techniques are used to study ground and rotationally excited states of pure and doped clusters. We use exponentially correlated wave functions and treat the molecular impurities as rigid. Whereas pure He_N show essentially monotonic decay of density from a central maximum value, addition of impurities induces local ordering of He to an extent dependent on the impurity-He binding. Rotational excitation of He_N gives rise to extremely large centrifugal distortions. The location of impurities also appears to change upon rotational excitation. The implications of these distortions on impurity spectra are discussed for SF₆He_N, and compared to recent experimental results.     

Low-frequency stimulated emission and induced absorption in a three-level atom

Investigations of the motion of conventional negative ions (electron bubbles) in He II under pressures above 11 bar have provided the only means of measuring the Landau critical velocity for roton creation,v _L, and for studying supercritical dissipation at higher velocities. Earlier work on roton creation is reviewed and it is pointed out that there is still no generally agreed explanation of the fact that the rotons seem to be emitted from the moving ionin pairs; nor is it known why the matrix element characterising the pair emission process should decrease rapidly with pressure. The possibility of studying these phenomena through use either of the fast ion (whose nature remains unknown), or of selected ions from the large variety of species that can be injected into He II by the recently developed technique of laser ablation, is discussed.     

Sextet levels in the phosphorus-like ion Cu

Delayed spectra of foil-excited fast Cu ions have been studied to find a number of 3s3p⁴, 3 s2 3 p2 3 d and 3s3p^33d levels in the P-like ion Cu¹⁴⁺ (spectrum Cu XV). Among these are 3 s 3 p3 3 d ⁶ D levels, which have never been observed before, although they are the lowest excited states that have the same parity as the ground configuration. The investigation combined theory and experiment. The calculations used the Cowan code with semi-empirically scaled parameters and extensive MCDF computations. Received: 14 April 1998 / Accepted: 18 April 1998     

Pressure dependence of the Mg transition in superfluid He

The pressure shifts of the 3s4s³S P_0,1,2 transition of magnesium atoms immersed in superfluid helium have been measured at K between saturated vapour pressure and 24 bar. The wavelength is blue shifted linearly by . This value can be satisfactorily described in the framework of the standard bubble model. Received 18 February 2000     

Measurement of the caesium 6S1/2?8P1/2 transition frequency

The caesium 6S _1/2? 8P _1/2,3/2 transitions at 387.6 nm and 388.8 nm have been observed with a linewidth of <5 MHz by laser spectroscopy. The absolute frequency of the 6S _1/2?8P _1/2 transition was determined to an uncertainty of ±1 MHz using the calibrated rubidium 5S _1/2?5D _5/2 two-photon transition and accurate interferometry. The potential of this caesium transition as a useful secondary frequency standard in blue–UV region is discussed. Received: 7 February 2000 / Revised version: 24 March 2000 / Published online: 24 July 2000     

Sublevel spectroscopy of alkali atoms in superfluid helium

We report the results of optical pumping and optical detection of magnetic resonance of alkali atoms (Cs and Rb) in superfluid helium. The magnetic resonances between the ground-state Zeeman sublevels and hyperfine levels are observed through monitoring theD ₁ fluorescence by means of the optical-rf double resonance technique. Although the ground stateg values in superfluid helium are the same as in vacuum within the experimental error, the hyperfine constant of the ground state of the Cs atom in superfluid helium is found to be slightly larger than in vacuum. Coherent transient spectroscopy is also performed.     

The binding of alkali atoms to the surfaces of liquid helium and hydrogen

Alkali atoms have been shown previously to have only unstable binding states inside liquid⁴He. We calculate the equilibrium configurations and binding energies of single alkali atoms near the liquid-vapor interface of⁴He and³He. A simple interface model is used to predict the surface deformation due to the presence of the atoms. A more realistic density functional model yields somewhat higher energies in the case of⁴He. For all alkali atoms, we find the surface binding energies to be around 10 to 20 K. A similar analysis with atom-H₂ interactions finds that alkali atoms tend to submerge into liquid H₂, with the exception of Li.     

Femtosecond Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Detection of Trace Elements in Sophora Leaves

Sophora leaves from several areas in Beijing are analysed by femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy （femto-LIBS）. Although the used spectral detection system is not time-resolved, the spectral lines of trace mineral elements are detected and analysed. It is proven that the femto-LIBS can be an efficient method to detect mineral trace elements contained in tree leaves which is a biomonitor for atmospheric pollution assessment or botanic studies. An interesting case of correlation between trace elements detected in tree leaves and the pollution of the concerned area is presented, for the first time to our knowledge.     

Detection of oxygen atoms in a high pressure surfatron microwave discharge via two-photon four-wave mixing

3 P_J) oxygen atoms are detected in a high pressure surface wave discharge driven at 2.45 GHz via two-photon resonant degenerate four-wave mixing spectroscopy (TP-DFWM) in the forward folded BOX configuration. The nonlinear optical signal provides a direct measure of the relative oxygen atom concentration with high spatial resolution inside the discharge up to pressures of 1 bar and without distortions due to linear absorption or saturation effects. The axial distribution of oxygen atom concentration is observed to depend sensitively on total pressure and gas flux. For total gas pressures up to 600 mbar both in case of a mixture of 10% O₂/He and 10% O₂/Ar the concentration of oxygen atoms increases linearly with pressure. At higher pressures an increase with larger slope is observed for 10% O₂/Ar, while the concentration remains constant for 10% O₂/He. This is interpreted by an increase of the three-body recombination rate in O₂/He mixtures. Received: 26 July 1996/Revised version: 15 November 1996     

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.     

Relative densities of hydrogen ion species in a hollow cathode glow discharge

Highly resolved Doppler shifted peaks of the hydrogen Balmer lines, resulting from charge exchange of H⁺, H₂⁺, and H₃⁺ with an H₂ gas target, were obtained without the need for a deconvolution procedure. This enabled the unambiguous determination of the chemistry of these hydrogen species in the units of mTorr pressure range. This was obtained from a gaseous discharge using a biconical hollow cathode that yielded a well collimated and monoenergetic beam.     

High-resolution diode-laser spectroscopy of calcium

Saturated-absorption signals on the calcium 657 nm transition are observed by direct absorption using diode lasers and a high flux atomic-beam cell. Line-widths as narrow as 65 kHz are observed with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Prospects for using this system as a compact wavelength/frequency reference are considered.