Physical Review A

Identification of the lowest metastable autoionizing level in Rb from rf spectroscopic studies

Robert Novick, G. F. Sprott, Thomas B. Lucatorto

Published Jul 1, 1976• 4 citations

Abstract

The lowest Rb metastable autoionizing level has been identified by a rf resonance measurement of the g factors of the various hyperfine sublevels. Of the two lowest-lying metastable state assignments, $4{p}^{5}(^{2}P)5s5p(^{3}P)^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}$ and $4{p}^{5}4d(^{3}F)5s^{4}F_{\frac{9}{2}}$, only components of the $^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}$ were observed in the metastable beam. The atomic-beam resonance method employed resembles traditional methods except that it exploits the differential metastability of the fine-structure levels instead of magnetic deflection for state selection.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.14.273

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Physical Review A

Identification of the lowest metastable autoionizing level in Rb from rf spectroscopic studies

Robert Novick, G. F. Sprott, Thomas B. Lucatorto

Published Jul 1, 1976• 4 citations

Publisher

Abstract

4{p}^{5}(^{2}P)5s5p(^{3}P)^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}

and

4{p}^{5}4d(^{3}F)5s^{4}F_{\frac{9}{2}}

, only components of the

^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}

were observed in the metastable beam. The atomic-beam resonance method employed resembles traditional methods except that it exploits the differential metastability of the fine-structure levels instead of magnetic deflection for state selection.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.14.273

Related papers

Identification of the Metastable Autoionizing States in Potassium with a New rf Spectroscopic Technique

G. F. Sprott, Robert Novick

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4{p}^{5}(^{2}P)5s5p(^{3}P)^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}

and

4{p}^{5}4d(^{3}F)5s^{4}F_{\frac{9}{2}}

, only components of the

^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}

(3{p}^{5}4s3d)^{4}F_{\frac{9}{2}}

state and a

(3{p}^{5}4s4p)^{4}D_{\frac{7}{2}}

state. In addition, a value of $Q=(5.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}26}$

{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}

(uncorrected for the Sternheimer effect) has been obtained for the

{\mathrm{K}}^{39}

nucleus. The production of polarized electrons and nuclei from these states is also discussed.

J=N

spin-rotational component of each rotational level (rotational quantum number

N

) by the Zeeman deceleration process. By repopulating the

J=N

component from the $J=N\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ low-field-seeking components using radio-frequency radiation, we measured the spin-rotation fine structure of 13 rovibrational levels with

v=0

, 1 and

N=1\text{--}21

. The low beam velocity and the resulting long interaction times with the radio-frequency radiation were exploited to determine the transition frequencies with a precision of 300 Hz.

{\mathrm{I}}^{b}

spectral terms. Magnetic and electric fields have been found to be effective in reducing the lifetime of the metastable atoms. The Zeeman quenching is discussed in a separate paper. The Stark quenching rate has been found to be proportional to the square of the electric field and to increase rapidly with atomic number

Z

. It is suggested that the Stark quenching results from a second-order interaction which involves the product of the electric field and the spin-orbit or other magnetic operators.