Physical Review A
Direct observation of the ΔJ=2 forbidden transition in Nd i induced by the second-order hyperfine perturbation
M. Wakasugi, W. Yang, Wei-Guo Jin, T. Horiguchi
Abstract
The fluorescence of a forbidden transition from the ground state ${(}^{5}$I, J''=4) to the 18 249.275-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ (J=6) level in Nd i was directly observed by atomic-beam laser spectroscopy. This transition was found to be caused by the second-order hyperfine perturbation from the close-lying 18 249.784-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ (J'=5) level. Thus the fluorescence peaks were observed only for odd isotopes of $^{143}\mathrm{Nd}$ and $^{145}\mathrm{Nd}$, and no peaks for even isotopes. Both the relative frequencies and the relative intensities of all the observed forbidden transitions agree well with the theoretical calculation.