Isotope shift measurements and charge radii of152–158Yb

Isotope shifts have been measured for the neutron deficient even Yb isotopes up to the neutron shell closure at N=82. The isotope shifts were measured using the 556-nm atomic resonance transition from the¹ S ₀ ground state to the³ P ₁ level. The heavier isotopes of Yb have been investigated by Buchinger et al./1/. The change in (r ²) observed for Yb isotopes with N=82–90 has considerably different behavior than for the lighter rare earths.     

Simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of lithium and ytterbium atoms towards production of ultracold polar molecules

We have successfully implemented the first simultaneous magneto-optical trapping (MOT) of lithium (⁶Li) and ytterbium (¹⁷⁴Yb) atoms towards production of ultracold polar molecules of LiYb. For this purpose, we developed the dual atomic oven which contains both atomic species as an atom source and successfully observed the spectra of the Li and Yb atoms in the atomic beams from the dual atomic oven. We constructed the vacuum chamber including the glass cell with the windows made of zinc selenium (ZnSe) for the CO₂ lasers, which are the useful light sources of optical trapping for evaporative and sympathetic cooling. Typical atom numbers and temperatures in the compressed MOT are 7×10³ atoms, 640 μK for ⁶Li, 7×10⁴ atoms, and 60 μK for ¹⁷⁴Yb, respectively.     

Phase transition in YbAl<Subscript>3</Subscript>C<Subscript>3</Subscript>

¹⁷⁰Yb M?ssbauer spectroscopy, temperature dependent X-ray, magnetisation and specific heat data are presented in the hexagonal intermetallic YbAl₃C₃, in order to shed light on the isostructural transition occurring near 80 K and to investigate the electronic state of the Yb ion above and below the transition. In the low temperature phase, we find that there occurs an atomic rearrangement in the hexagonal unit cell, leading to a strong symmetry lowering at the Yb site. We show that no magnetic ordering of the Yb³⁺ moments occurs down to 0.04 K, and we discuss this finding in terms of 4f-conduction electron hybridisation and geometric frustration.     

An Overview of 166Er, 169Tm and 170Yb Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The hyperfine splittings of the nuclear energy levels in rare-earth (R) isotopes are sensitive measures of the complex interplay between magnetic exchange and electrostatic crystal-field interactions operating at the atomic level. Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used to great effect in the on-going investigation of these fundamental interactions in R compounds and in this paper we present an overview of ¹⁶⁶Er, ¹⁶⁹Tm and ¹⁷⁰Yb Mössbauer spectroscopy. In particular, we derive expressions for the nuclear energy level splittings incorporating both magnetic and electric quadrupole interactions, using second-order perturbation theory. Such expressions provide a useful means of fitting experimental spectra and also yield criteria for determining whether or not a proposed set of energy level values is physical or not. We also present a number of useful rules of thumb for the analysis of ¹⁶⁶Er, ¹⁶⁹Tm and ¹⁷⁰Yb Mössbauer spectra and, as such, this paper is in effect a Resource Letter.     

Isotope shift and hyperfine structure measurements for 155Yb by laser ion source technique

The change in the mean square charge radius and electromagnetic moments of the neutron deficient ¹⁵⁵Yb isotope have been determined using resonance ionization spectroscopy in a laser ion source. The data point to an absence of a marked deformation change for Yb isotopes with N=84−86. Received: 2 October 1997 / Revised version: 24 October 1997     

Determination of tensor polarizabilities in Yb and Sm by quantum beat spectroscopy

Tensor polarizabilities of the levels 4f¹⁴6s6p³P₁ in Yb and (4f⁶6s6p+4f⁵5d6s²)⁷D₁,⁷F₁,⁷G₁ in Sm were deduced for the even isotopes from the modulation frequency of quantum beat signals.     

A new Mössbauer isotope for solid state investigations:174γb

The even-even isotopes of Yb are good probes for solid state investigations by Mössbauer spectroscopy. A disadvantage of the commonly used¹⁷⁰Yb is its low natural abundance of only 3%. We have developed a new source for Mössbauer spectroscopy with¹⁷⁴Yb which is superior to¹⁷⁰ Yb not only because of the higher isotopic abundance (32%) but also in resolution and f-factor.     

Laser spectroscopy of trapped 7Be and 10Be at a prototype slow RI-beam facility of RIKEN

A next-generation slow radioactive nuclear ion beam facility (SLOWRI) which provides slow, high-purity and small emittance ion beams of all elements is being build as one of the principal facilities at the RIKEN RI-beam factory (RIBF). High energy radioactive ion beams from the projectile fragment separator BigRIPS are thermalized in a large gas catcher cell. The thermalized ions in the gas cell are guided and extracted to a vacuum environment by a combination of dc electric fields and inhomogeneous rf fields (rf carpet ion guide). From there the slow ion beam is delivered via a mass separator and a switchyard to various devices: such as an ion trap, a collinear fast beam apparatus, and a multi-reflection time of flight mass spectrometer. In the R&D works at the present RIKEN facility, an overall efficiency of 5% for a 100A MeV ⁸Li ion beam from the present projectile fragment separator RIPS was achieved and the dependence of the efficiency on the ion beam intensity was investigated. Recently our first spectroscopy experiment at the prototype SLOWI was performed on Be isotopes. Energetic ions of ¹⁰Be and ⁷Be from the RIPS were trapped and laser cooled in a linear rf trap and the specific mass shifts of these isotopes were measured for the first time.     

Precision spectroscopy of the helium atom

Persistent efforts in both theory and experiment have yielded increasingly precise understanding of the helium atom. Because of its simplicity, the helium atom has long been a testing ground for relativistic and quantum electrodynamic effects in few-body atomic systems theoretically and experimentally. Comparison between theory and experiment of the helium spectroscopy in 1s2p³P _J can potentially extract a very precise value of the fine structure constant á. The helium atom can also be used to explore exotic nuclear structures. In this paper, we provide a brief review of the recent advances in precision calculations and measurements of the helium atom.      

Experiments and analysis of infrared quantum cutting luminescence phenomena of Ho/Yb codoped nanophase oxyfluoride vitroceramics

The infrared quantum cutting phenomenon, which is an international hot research field, of Ho³⁺Yb³⁺: oxyfluoride vitroceramics (FOV) was studied in the present paper. It was found from the fluorescence spectroscopy experiments that the excitation spectrum of 973.0 nm fluorescence of Yb³⁺ ion is very similar to the absorption and excitation spectra of Ho³⁺ ion. It suggests that the energy transfer from Ho³⁺ ion to Yb³⁺ ion is very efficient. Then, all the possible important energy transfer passages were analyzed. It was found that the energy transfers {⁵G₄(Ho³⁺)→⁵F₅(Ho³⁺), ²F_7/2(Yb³⁺)→²F_5/2(Yb³⁺)} and {⁵F₅(Ho³⁺)→⁵I₇(Ho³⁺), ²F_7/2(Yb³⁺)→²F_5/2(Yb³⁺)} result in the effective two-photon quantum cutting 973.0 nm fluorescence of Yb³⁺ ion when ⁵G₄ or ³K₇ or the above energy level of Ho³⁺ ion are excited. Finally, the quantum efficiency η_QE,1%Yb=43.0% and η_QE,5%Yb=171.7% of two-photon quantum cutting was calculated for Ho(0.5)Yb(1):FOV and Ho(0.5)Yb(5):FOV respectively. This research would be beneficial for the enhancement of solar cell efficiency.     

Level-crossing-spectroscopy with additional optical pumping in the ground state

The level crossing-technique with additional optical pumping in the ground state is demonstrated in the case of the hyperfinestructure of the 6p ¹ P ₁ state of the two odd isotopes of Yb using a natural occuring isotopic mixture. The influences of the pumping process and of a buffer gas on the lc signal structure are discussed in terms of a modified Breit formula.     

Hyperfine structure and isotope shifts in the 5d6s2 a2D3/2--5d6s(a3D)6p z4F5/2 ° transition of Hf II

The hyperfine structure and isotope shifts of the transition between the 5d6s² a²D_3/2 ground state and the 5d6s(a³D)6p z⁴F_5/2 ^° excited state of singly ionized hafnium at \lambda=340 nm have been investigated by laser spectroscopy using a radio-frequency quadrupole ion trap. The magnetic dipole coupling constant A and electric quadrupole coupling constant B of the two atomic levels for both stable isotopes ¹⁷⁷Hf and ¹⁷⁹Hf are determined. The changes of mean square nuclear charge radii \delta[ r²] of the stable Hf isotopes and the radioactive isotope ¹⁷²Hf (T_1/2=1.87a) have been extracted from the data. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inner-shell excited quartet states in Li-like O<Superscript>5+</Superscript> and Ne<Superscript>7+</Superscript> ions

First laser spectroscopic measurements of the 6s5d³D₁-6s6p¹P₁ and 6s5d³D₂-6s6p¹P₁ transitions in several isotopes of atomic barium have been performed. The hyperfine structure of these transitions was optically resolved and isotope shifts for even and odd isotopes were determined. The isotope shifts show a deviation from their expected behavior for odd isotopes in an analysis based on King-plots. This observation puts atomic structure calculations at test because available theories do not predict this. A profound understanding of the wavefunctions for heavy alkaline earth systems like barium (Ba) and radium (Ra) is essential for a theoretical evaluation of their sensitivity to fundamental symmetry breaking effects such as they could be observed, e.g., through permanent electric dipole moments. Further the absolute frequency of the 6s^{2 1}S₀-6s6p³P₁ intercombination line in ¹³⁸Ba was determined to be 12 636.6232(1) cm^-1.     

New isotope159Lu and decay of158Lu,159,158Yb isotopes

Lutetium and ytterbium isotopes with masses A=159,158 have been produced by proton induced spallation reaction, and investigated by on-line mass separation and subsequent decay spectroscopy. A new isotope¹⁵⁹Lu (T_1/2=12.3±1 s) has been identified, and newγ-ray data have been obtained for the decay of¹⁵⁸Lu and^{159, 158}Yb.     

Ra+ ion trapping: toward an atomic parity violation measurement and an optical clock

A single Ra⁺ ion stored in a Paul radio frequency ion trap has excellent potential for a precision measurement of the electroweak mixing angle at low momentum transfer and as the most stable optical clock. The effective transport and cooling of singly charged ions of the isotopes ²⁰⁹Ra to ²¹⁴Ra in a gas filled radio frequency quadrupole device is reported. The absolute frequencies of the transition 7s²S_1/2–7d²D_3/2 at wavelength 828 nm have been determined in ^212–214Ra⁺ with ≤19 MHz uncertainty using laser spectroscopy on small samples of ions trapped in a linear Paul trap at the online facility Trapped Radioactive Isotopes: µicrolaboratories for fundamental Physics (TRIµP) of the Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut.     

Laser spectroscopy of atoms in superfluid helium for the measurement of nuclear spins and electromagnetic moments of radioactive atoms

A new laser spectroscopic method named “OROCHI (Optical RI-atom Observation in Condensed Helium as Ion catcher)” has been developed for deriving the nuclear spins and electromagnetic moments of low-yield exotic nuclei. In this method, we observe atomic Zeeman and hyperfine structures using laser-radio-frequency/microwave double-resonance spectroscopy. In our previous works, double-resonance spectroscopy was performed successfully with laser-sputtered stable atoms including non-alkali Au atoms as well as alkali Rb and Cs atoms. Following these works, measurements with ^84?87Rb energetic ion beams were carried out in the RIKEN projectile fragment separator (RIPS). In this paper, we report the present status of OROCHI and discuss its feasibility, especially for low-yield nuclei such as unstable Au isotopes.     

Hyperfine structure and isotope shifts of neutron-rich138–146Cs

The 6s²S_1/2-7_p ²P_3/2 transition in^138–142Cs (λ=455.5 nm) has been investigated by high-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy in a fast atomic beam. The isotopes are obtained by on-line mass separation of fission products. Nuclear moments and changes of mean-square charge radii are derived from hyperfine structure and isotope shift.     

Infrared quantum cutting conversion luminescence of Tb(0.7)Yb(3):FOV

The infrared quantum cutting of oxyfluoride nanophase vitroceramics Tb(0.7)Yb(3):FOV has been studied in the present paper. The actual quantum cutting efficiency formula calculated from integral fluorescence intensity is extended to the case of Tb(0.7)Yb(3):FOV. The visible and the infrared fluorescence spectra and their integral fluorescence intensities are measured from static fluorescence experiment. Lifetime curve is measured from dynamic fluorescence experiment. It is found that the total actual quantum cutting efficiency η of the excited ⁵D₄ level is about 93.7%, and that of excited (⁵D₃, ⁵G₆) levels is 93.5%. It is also found that the total theoretical quantum cutting efficiency upper limit η_x%Yb of the 485.5 nm excited <⁵D₄ level is about 121.7%, and that of 378.5 nm excited (⁵D₃, ⁵G₆) levels is 137.2%.     

Cooperative down-conversion of UV light in disordered scheelitelike Yb-doped NaGd(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> and NaLa(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystals

Concentration series of disordered scheelitelike Yb:NaGd(MoO₄)₂ and Yb:NaLa(MoO₄)₂ single crystals are grown by the Czochralski method. The actual concentrations of Yb³⁺ ions in the crystals are determined by optical-absorption spectroscopy. The luminescence of Yb³⁺ ions in these crystals in the region of 1 μm is studied under UV and IR excitation. In the case of UV excitation, this luminescence appears as a result of nonradiative excited state energy transfer from donor centers of unknown nature to ytterbium. The character of the concentration dependence of Yb³⁺ luminescence indicates that the energy transfer at high Yb concentrations occurs with active participation of a cooperative mechanism, according to which the excitation energy of one donor center is transferred simultaneously to two Yb³⁺ ions. In other words, the quantum yield of this transfer exceeds unity, which can be used to increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells.     

Massive spin-momentum entanglement measured in an atomic beam spin echo experiment

In this paper we present an experiment performed with an atomic beam spin echo interferometer, in which massive intraparticle entanglement is demonstrated. In the longitudinal Stern-Gerlach arrangement the nuclear spin and linear momentum of ³He particles are inextricably linked, such that the overall system state cannot be written as the tensor product of the corresponding Hilbert spaces. The measured data show maximal entanglement between ℋ _I and ℋ _p . This hybrid system of one quantum and one classical degree of freedom is a textbook example of entanglement between discrete and continuous observables.