Nuclear ground state spins of short-lived strontium isotopes

Nuclear ground state spins of the odd-mass strontium isotopes between A=79 and 97 were determined by measurements of the hyperfine structure in the ionic transition 5s²S_1/2?5p²P_3/2. The spins of⁹³Sr and⁹⁷Sr are revised to I=5/2 and I=1/2, respectively, while assignments for the remaining isotopes are confirmed.     

Measurement of the lifetime of the3 P 2 and4 P 5/2 states in Ar16+ and Ar15+

Promptly decaying levels in Li- and Be-like Ar could be identified in the delayed x-ray and electron spectrum in addition to the four known metastable (1s2s)¹ S ₀, (1s2s)³ S ₁, (1s2p)³ P ₂, and (1s2s2p)⁴ P _5/2 states in He- and Li-like systems. The states having lifetimes of about 10^?14s still contribute to the spectrum observed 10^?9s after the ions have passed a foil. This observation is explained by cascading processes from states of high principal quantum numbern≧14. The measured lifetime of the⁴ P _5/2 state subtracting the contribution of cascades is (0.594±0.016) ns and slightly larger than the theoretically predicted value of 0.563 ns. The³ P ₂ state is depopulated at short distances behind the foil by cascading processes. Its measured lifetime of (1.44±0.08) ns compares to a theoretical value of 1.48 ns.     

Relativistic R-matrix close-coupling calculations for photoionization of Ne-like Al IV

We present relativistic close-coupling photoionization calculations of Al IV using the Breit-Pauli R-matrix method to obtain photoionization cross-section of Al IV from the ground state and the lowest two J=0 (even) excited states. A multi-configuration eigenfunctions expansion of the core Al V is employed with spectroscopic configurations 2s²2p⁵, 2s2p⁶, 2s²2p⁴3s, 2s²2p⁴3p, 2s²2p⁴3d and 2s²2p⁴4s. We have included, for the first time, the lowest 68 level target states of Al V in the photoionization calculations of Al IV. Extensive configuration interaction wavefunctions are used to describe both the initial Al IV states and the final Al V states. Cross-sections are compared from three level calculations including only 2s² 2p^{5 2}P^o _3/2, _1/2 and 2s 2p^{6 2}S_1/2 levels of Al V. The present calculation using the lowest 68 target levels of Al V are presented for the first time and should provide reasonably complete database for practical application for photoionization cross-section for Al IV, where high-energy cross-sections along with near-threshold photoionization cross-section is required.     

Absolute measurement of an atomic cascade rate using a two photon coincidence technique. Application to the 4p21S0 -4s4p 1P1 -4s21S0 cascade of calcium excited by a two photon absorption

The two photon coincidence technique yields an absolute measurement of a cascade decay rate without knowing the detection efficiency of each detector. This method is applied to calcium atoms in an atomic beam excited to the 4p²¹S₀ state, and decaying via the resonant ¹P₁ state; it yields the excitation rate of the upper 4p²¹S₀ level. Since the excitation process (two photon absorption) is controlled, one can compute the excitation rate of the upper level as a function of the transition probabilities in the cascade. The lower transition is well known and we can therefore deduce the transition probability for the 4p²¹S₀ -4s4p ¹P₁, transition which previously had not been accurately determined. The preliminary measurements yield a line strength s = 0.98 ± 0.3 au in good agreement with a recent measurement of the lifetime of the 4p²¹S₀ state.     

Observation of the radiative 2s02p6−2s12p5 transition in NeIII

Ion impact excited spectra of Ne contain a line at 52.82 nm which has been identified as resulting from the decay of double 2s vacancies in NeIII via the transition 2s⁰2p⁶(¹S₀)?2s¹2p⁵(¹P₁).     

The beryllium atom and beryllium positive ion in strong magnetic fields

The ground and a few excited states of the beryllium atom in external uniform magnetic fields are calculated by means of our 2D mesh Hartree-Fock method for field strengths ranging from zero up to 2.35×10⁹ T. With changing field strength the ground state of the Be atom undergoes three transitions involving four different electronic configurations which belong to three groups with different spin projections S _z = 0, - 1, - 2. For weak fields the ground state configuration arises from the 1s ²2s ², S _z = 0 configuration. With increasing field strength the ground state evolves into the two S _z = - 1 configurations 1s ²2s2p _-1 and 1s ²2p _-13d _-2, followed by the fully spin polarised S _z = - 2 configuration 1s2p _-13d _-24f _-3. The latter configuration forms the ground state of the beryllium atom in the high field regime γ > 4.567. The analogous calculations for the Be ⁺ ion provide the sequence of the three following ground state configurations: 1s^22s and 1s ²2p _-1 (S _z = - 1/2) and 1s2p _-13d _-2 (S _z = - 3/2). Received 2 October 2000 and Received in final form 8 January 2001     

The study of photoionization of neon-like Ar IX

The photoionization of the ground state of neon-like is investigated and the autoionizing spectrum of 2s²2p⁵²P_1/2ns,nd and 2s2p⁶²S_1/2np Rydberg series of Ar IX are studied by using the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian within the R-matrix theory combine with the QB method of Quigly-Berrington [L. Quigley, K.A. Berrington, J. Pelan, Comput. Phys. Commun. 144 (1998) 225]. We predict the energies and widths of four Rydberg series of Ar IX.     

Hyperfine structure of the 8p 2 P 3/2 and 8p 2 P 1/2 levels of115In

The hyperfine structure of the 8p ² P _3/2 and² P _1/2 levels of¹¹⁵In was measured using high-resolution laser spectroscopy on a collimated indium atomic beam. Step-wise excitations from the metastable 5² P _3/2 state via the shortlived 6s ² S _1/2 state were employed. For the magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole interaction constantsa andb, respectively, the following results were obtained:a(8p ² P _3/2)=16.3 (3) MHz,b(8p ² P _3/2)=11 (3) MHz anda(8p ² P _1/2)=44.0 (5) MHz. The magnetic hyperfine structure is shown to be strongly influenced by core polarization. For the electric-quadrupole moment of¹¹⁵In the valueQ=0.79 (20) barn is deduced.     

The KrXe molecule: Modification of potential curves of the ground and first excited electronic states

Potential curves of the ground state of the KrXe molecule and its excited states that converge to the Kr(4p ^{6 1} S ₀) + Xe(5p ⁵6s ³ P ₁) atomic states are corrected and tested using the results of modeling published vacuum ultraviolet spectra of a gas-discharge plasma of a krypton/xenon mixture.     

Rb atomic absorption line reference for single Sr+ laser cooling systems

85 Rb, 5s²S_1/2(F”=2)→6p²P_1/2(F’=2,3) absorption resonance with the ⁸⁸Sr⁺, 5s²S_1/2→5p²P_1/2 transition is exploited to provide a simple, effective frequency reference for a laser cooling/fluorescence excitation source applied to single Sr⁺ ions. A modulation-free frequency stabilization system has been designed which uses the differential signal from two frequency-displaced beams traversing a Rb cell and which probe the Doppler-broadened Rb S–P lineshape at microwatt power levels. The method is applied to frequency lock a 422-nm frequency-doubled diode laser system that is used for excitation of a single ⁸⁸Sr⁺ ion. Stable, long-term laser cooling and fluorescence are achieved using the frequency-stabilized 422-nm source resulting in observed ion confinement times without adjustment of over 8 h, together with an improvement in single-ion loading efficiency. Received: 12 February 1998     

The autoionizing energy levels of neon-like Al IV

The photoionization of the ground state of neon-like ions is investigated, and the autoionizing spectrum of 2s²2p⁵ (²P_1/2)ns,nd and 2s2p⁶ (²S_1/2)np Rydberg series of Al IV is studied by using the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian within the R-matrix theory combining with the QB method of Quigly-Berrington (Quigley L, Berrington K A, Pelan J. Comput Phys Commun 1998;144:225). We predict the autoionizing energy levels and widths of four Rydberg series of Al IV.     

Resonance-enhanced multiple-photon ionisation spectroscopy of excited sulphur atoms

Sulfur atoms are produced in the excited 3s ²3p ^{4 1} D ₂ and 3s ²3p ^{4 1} S ₀ levels by two-photon photodissociation of CS₂ in the gas phase in the region 285–305 nm. These excited atoms are detected by three-photon (two to resonance) ionisation at selected laser wavelengths. Many new transitions have been observed which have not been reported previously. The new dark states that have been accessed by two-photon absorption have been characterised and the energy levels with respect to the ground ³ P ₂ state have been determined. Configuration interaction between 6p ³ P ₁, 6p ⁵ P ₁, and 4p¹ P ₁ states, and also between 6p ³ P ₂, 6p ⁵ P ₂, and 4p¹ D ₂ states has been observed. It is found that intermediate states reached from the ¹ S ₀ level through two-photon absorption lie above the first ionisation potential of S⁺(⁴ S ⁰). It is proposed that autoionisation into the ⁴ S ⁰+e^– continuum is a dominant mechanism in the decay of these levels, although ionisation by a further photon absorption is not ruled out.     

Mechanisms of broadening of emission lines of a laser-induced plasma generated on the surface of rigid targets

This article reports the results of an experimental investigation of the basic mechanisms that cause the broadening of emission lines of a laser-induced plasma generated on the surface of rigid targets in a gaseous atmosphere. The contribution of Stark and resonance mechanisms of emission-line broadening for the resonance doublet Al I 3s²3p²P_3/2,1/2-3s²4s²S_1/2 and triplet Mg I 3s3p³P _0,1,2 ⁰ -3s4s³S₁ is discussed. The concentrations of neutral Al atoms in the laser-induced plasma are evaluated by the magnitude of resonance line broadening. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 234–237, March–April, 2000.     

Hyperfine splitting constants in the optical transition \boldsymbol{{4{f}^{7}} {6{s}^{2}} \;{^{8}{\rm S}_{7/2}} \to {4{f}^{7}} {6{s}6{p}}\; {^{6}{\rm P}_{5/2}} \ {\rm of} \ {^{151-155}{\rm Eu}}} isotopes and hyperfine anomaly

Using the method of laser-induced fluorescence in an atomic beam we have measured the hyperfine splitting constants, A and B, of the ground and excited states of the optical transition 4f ⁷6s ^{2 8}S $_{1/2}\to 4f^{7}$ 6s6p ⁶P_5/2 (564.58 nm) for ^151???155Eu isotopes. For all isotopes, the magnetic dipole constants of the ⁶P_5/2 atomic level are determined to a precision better than 0.04%. The A and B constants for the ground state ⁸S_7/2 of the radioactive ^152,154,155Eu were obtained for the first time with a precision better than 0.5%. Our data along with previous ground state hyperfine structure measurements for the stable europium isotopes allow us to determine the hyperfine anomaly for mentioned Eu isotopes.     

Isotope shifts in transitions between low-lying levels of Sr I by laser-atomic-beam spectroscopy

High-resolution laser-atomic-beam spectroscopy has been used to determine isotope shifts in five transitions between low-lying states of Sr I. With these results and existing data a parametric analysis of level isotope shifts has been performed. The transition isotope shifts have been separated into field shift and mass shift contributions with a King-plot procedure using model-independent nuclear charge equivalent radiiR _k from muonic x-ray measurements. Values for the mean-square nuclear charge radiiδ〈r ₂ 〉 have been calculated from the field shifts in the optical transitions 5s ^{2 1} S ₀-5s5p ³ P ₁ and 5s5p ³ P ₀-5s6s ³ S ₁ and compared with correspondingδ〈r ² 〉 values evaluated from muonic x-ray data.     

Photoionization cross-section measurements from the 2p, 3d and 3s excited states of lithium

The photoionization cross-sections from the 2p²P_{1/2, 3/2}, 3d²D_{3/2, 5/2} and 3s²S_1/2 excited states of lithium have been measured at different ionizing laser wavelengths, above the first ionization threshold. The experiments are performed by using a thermionic diode working in the space charge limited mode and the cross-sections are measured by employing the saturation technique. By changing the ionization photon energy, a smooth frequency dependence of the cross-sections has been observed for the 2p and 3d states. The cross-section from the 3s excited state has been measured at a single photon energy. The measured values of the photoionization cross are compared with the available data.     

Modulation-free pump-probe spectroscopy of strontium atoms

We have performed polarization spectroscopy on the 5s^{2 1}S₀ →5s5p¹P₁ transition of atomic strontium. The signal is generated by saturation effects, rather than optical pumping, as the ground state is non-degenerate. This technique generated a dispersion-type lineshape suitable for laser stabilization, without the need for frequency modulation. The dependence of the amplitude and gradient on intensity and magnetic field were also investigated, and compared to a related technique based on the circular dichroism induced by a magnetic field.     

Large-scale collisional energy transfer in laser-pumped metastable Ca atoms: Excitation of resonance states of Ca II

We report the first experimental observation of the excitation of the 4p ² P _{3/2, 1/2} resonance states of Ca II (located at 74 720.4 and 74 497.5 cm^–1 above the ground state of Ca I) following pulsed-laser pumping of the 4s ^{2 1} S _O–4s4p ³P₁ intercombination transition of Ca I (E _ex = 15 210 cm^–1). Large scale collisional transfer of energy between the laser-excited atoms is believed to be responsible for this. This is possibly because sufficient time is available (_rad of the 4s4p ³ P ₁ state is approximately 350 µs) for collisions to build such a high level of excitation. Some interesting additional features of the fluorescence spectra of the laser-pumped Ca vapor, such as temperature dependence of the fluorescence intensities and evolution in time of some selected states, are also presented.     

Nuclear spins,moments and charge radii of108−111Sn

The hyperfine structure splittings (hfs) and isotope shifts (IS) in the atomic transitions 5s ² 5p ^{2 1} S ₀ → 5s ² 5p6s ^1,3 P ₁ have been measured for the radioactive isotopes^108?111Sn and all stable ones. The tin isotopes were prepared as fast atomic beams for collinear laser spectroscopy at the GSI online mass separator following a fusion reaction. Nuclear spins, magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole moments and changes in mean square charge radii have been determined. In¹⁰⁹Sn the spinI=5/2 was measured for the nuclear ground state (T _1/2=18 min) in contradiction to the literature value. The mean square charge radii show a parabolic behaviour with a maximum at N=66. This is interpreted by collective effects, which are considerably stronger than accounted for by theB(E2)-values.     

Photoluminescence of polycrystalline cadmium sulfide films at 77 °K

The absorption, reflection, emission, and luminescence spectra of polycrystalline cadmium sulfide films have been studied at 77 deg K at 4500–5500 A. The films were prepared by sublimination of the powder in argon, hydrogen sulfide, or vacuum, followed by crystallization on a heated or unheated substrate.Specimens deposited on substrates below 350 deg C had simple absorption and emission spectra no matter which medium was used, but ones coated on substrates above 350 deg C had absorption, reflection, luminescence, and emission spectra with fine structure, which was due to transitions between the 5s²¹S₀ ground state and 5s5p³P₁, 5s5p³P₂, and 5s5p³P₀ excited states of atomic excess cadmium.Four maxima were found in the excitation spectrum of the blue luminescence (4545, 4605, 4670, and4740 A). The spectrum of the luminescence is independent of exciting wavelength in the range 2200–4900 A.This structure was observed only for films with hexagonal lattice symmetry.