Saturation spectra of low lying states of Nitrogen: reconciling experiment with theory

The hyperfine constants of the levels 2p ² \((^{3}\)P)3s ⁴P _J , 2p ² \((^3\)P)3p ⁴P\(^o_J\) and 2p ² \((^3\)P)3p ⁴D\(^o_J\), deduced by Jennerich et al. Eur. Phys. J. D 40, 81 (2006)] from the observed hyperfine structures of the transitions 2p ² \((^3\)P)3s ⁴P _J \(\rightarrow\) 2p ² \((^3\)P)3p ⁴P\(^o_{J'}\) and 2p ² \((^3\)P)3s ⁴P _J \(\rightarrow\) 2p ² \((^3\)P)3p ⁴D\(^o_{J'}\) recorded by saturation spectroscopy in the near-infrared,strongly disagree with the ab initio values of Jönsson et al. J. Phys. B: At. Mol.Opt. Phys. 43, 115006 (2010)].We propose a new interpretation of the recorded weak spectral lines. If the latter are indeed reinterpreted as crossover signals, a new set of experimental hyperfine constants is deduced, in very good agreement with the ab initio predictions.