Observation of the 3(3)Sigma(+)-X1Sigma+ transition of KRb by resonance enhanced two-photon ionization in a pulsed molecular beam: Hyperfine structures of 39K85Rb and 39K87Rb isotopomers

The 3(3)Sigma(+)-X1Sigma+ transition of KRb is observed by resonance enhanced two-photon ionization in a pulsed molecular beam. Hyperfine splittings of 39K85Rb and 39K87Rb isotopomers are observed. From the magnitude of hyperfine splittings, we found that the main hyperfine structure was dominated by the Fermi contact interaction between the Rb nuclear spin and the unpaired electron spin. The Fermi contact interaction constants were determined to be 291 MHz for 39K85Rb and 665 MHz for 39K87Rb. In the KRb 3(3)Sigma+ state the electron spin couples more strongly with the Rb nuclear spin than with other angular momenta, and the energy level structure is well described by the hyperfine angular momentum coupling scheme of the b(betaS) case. The molecular constants and the Rydberg-Klein-Rees potential energy curve of the 3(3)Sigma+ state were determined.