Isotope shift studies in the first spectrum of dysprosium: confirmation of assignments to and new assignments to configuration

Isotope shifts (-) are reported for 221 spectral lines of the neutral dysprosium atom (Dy I) in the region 470-565 nm using a photoelectric recording Fabry-Perot spectrometer and highly enriched isotopic samples of and excited in liquid-nitrogen-cooled hollow-cathode lamps. Isotope shift data for 173 of these lines are being reported for the first time. Using the isotope shift data, term isotope shifts (-) have been evaluated for 99 even- and 68 odd-parity energy levels of Dy I. New values have been obtained for 24 odd and 36 even levels. These new values have enabled us to check some of the existing tentative assignments and also to suggest configuration assignments to a few unassigned energy levels. The earlier tentative assignments of 4 f10 5 d 6 p configuration to many high odd levels lying above have been presently confirmed. We could assign the 4f^95d6s6p configuration to 24 unassigned even levels. Received: 3 August 1998