Atomic spin precessions of fluorine ions recoiling through vacuum in weak transverse magnetic fields

A new experimental method for unveiling the strong hyperfine interactions of multi-electron ion configurations is described. It consists in observing atomic spin precessions of nuclear-excited ions recoiling through vacuum in weak external transverse magnetic fields. Due to the strong hyperfine coupling the nuclear orientation follows the atomic precession, resulting in a rotation of the angular correlation of decayγ-rays. The method is illustrated using the long-lived 197keV¹⁹F (5/2⁺) state as probe. The observed large precessions as well as the strong attenuations of theγ-angular correlations are well accounted for by considering all possible configurations resulting from the coupling ofL-shell electrons in the relevant ionic charge states.