Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review B

High-resolution measurements of the vacuum ultraviolet energy levels of trivalent gadolinium by excited state excitation

P.S. Peijzel, Paul Vermeulen, W. J. M. Schrama, Andries Meijerink, Michael F. Reid, Gary W. Burdick

Published Mar 24, 2005• 30 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The energy levels of lanthanide ions have been studied in great detail in the energy range up to $40\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ $(250\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm})$. Recently an increased interest in the high energy levels between 40 000 and $70\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ has emerged, partly triggered by the need for new luminescent materials for vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation. Using synchrotron radiation many new energy levels have been discovered for various lanthanide ions. However, the spectral resolution of a synchrotron is limited and to resolve the complete energy level structure higher resolution tunable lasers are required. Unfortunately no high-resolution tunable lasers are available in the VUV. To overcome this problem two-photon spectroscopy may be applied. In this paper resonant two-photon spectroscopy is applied to measure the energy level structure of ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}$ in fluorides. Excited state excitation (ESE) from the $^{6}P_{7∕2}$ level is shown to provide high-resolution spectra of the high energy levels of ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}$. The extension of the energy level structure is used to improve energy level calculations, which is especially beneficial for ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}$ where only a limited number of energy levels is available from conventional laser spectroscopy.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.71.125126

Related papers

Vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopy and quantum cutting for Gd3+ in LiYF4

R. T. Wegh, Harry Donker, Andries Meijerink +2 more

A systematic spectroscopic study of the ${4f}^{7}$ energy levels of ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}$ in ${\mathrm{LiYF}}_{4}$ in the vacuum-ultraviolet spectral region $(50000--70000{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1})$ is reported. Using energy-level calculations, all observed spectral lines could be assigned to free-ion term symbols (including term symbols with unusually high $L$ and $J,$ e.g., a ${}^{2}{Q}_{23/2}$ level around $67000{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$). From the ${}^{6}{G}_{J}$ levels around $50000{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ quantum cutting (or two-photon luminescence, photon-cascade emission) is observed: the emission of a red photon due to the ${}^{6}{G}_{J}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{6}{P}_{J}$ transition is followed by the emission of an ultraviolet photon due to the ${}^{6}{P}_{J}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{8}{S}_{7/2}$ transition.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Dec 1, 1997•280 citations

Probing vacuum ultraviolet energy levels of trivalent gadolinium by two-photon spectroscopy

P.S. Peijzel, W. J. M. Schrama, Michael F. Reid +1 more

Journal of Luminescence•Apr 7, 2003•7 citations

High-resolution spectroscopy of 162Dy Rydberg levels

G. Ferioli, P. Lombardi, P. Sekhar +9 more

Highly excited Rydberg states of lanthanides are a promising, yet largely unexplored, playground for quantum studies. Here, we report on the first high-resolution spectroscopy of 162Dy obtained by two-color trap depletion spectroscopy in a magneto-optical trap. The absolute excitation frequency of over 700 states with effective principal quantum number n between 21 and 130 is measured with an accuracy of 20 MHz. Most states are assigned to the 8 different series converging to the first 4f10(5I8)6s(2S1/2) J = 17/2 ionization potential. This energy is measured at EIP = 47901.8265 +/- 0.0008 cm-1, improving the precision of the literature value by over an order of magnitude. A multichannel quantum defect theory approach is used to benchmark and refine the assignments and to characterize six observed perturbing states belonging to higher ionization limits. These results pave the way for using dysprosium in Rydberg-based quantum architectures, leveraging the unique properties arising from its complex electronic structure. They also represent a compelling benchmark for ab-initio calculations of open-shell atomic systems.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2602.19824•Physical Review A•Feb 24, 2026•0 citations

Non-Linear Mixing

K. H. Welge

We report investigations with tunable VUV radiation, employing VUV generation in regions down to the cut-off wavelength of lithium fluorid crystal (~ 110 nm) by frequency tripling of tunable UV from dye laser. -Experiments on multiphoton excitation and ionization of atomic hydrogen with tunable VUV light at Lyman-α, have been carried out with the following objectives: (1) sensitive H and D atom detection by two-photon ionization i. e. 1s ω Lyα → 2 p ω uv → ion , (2) two-photon ionization of H with high resolution at Lyman-α to resolve the hyperfine groundstate doublet, aiming at the production of polarized protons, (3) state selective production of high Rydberg states ( 1 s ω Lyα → 2p ω uv → ns, nd ) , and their ionization, (4) Doppler line shape spectroscopy at Lyman-α applied to recoil energy and momentum distribution measurements of H and D atoms in dissociation processes. -Depending on the objective, different experimental conditions and systems have been employed, for instance atomic beam configuration, mass-spectroscopic ion detection, field ionization in cryogenetic environment, and for Doppler measurements laser induced fluorescence.

Topical Meeting on Laser Techniques in the Extreme Ultraviolet•Jan 1, 1982•0 citations

Two-dimensional shelving spectroscopy of ultraviolet ground state transitions in dysprosium

Kevin S. H. Ng, Paul Uerlings, Fiona Hellstern +5 more

The open inner-shell electronic structure of lanthanides with large magnetic moments gives rise to a rich spectrum of transitions available for laser cooling, trapping, and coherent control. Despite this, the large number of ultraviolet (UV) transitions below 400nm have so far been rarely utilized in dipolar atom experiments. Here, we investigate multiple UV ground state transitions in dysprosium. Several of these UV excited states have the largest decay strengths to the ultralong-lived, low-lying first excited state which are comparable to the most commonly used strongest transitions found in dipolar atoms. Using two-dimensional shelving spectroscopy which improves detection sensitivity and provides a straightforward way to determine the hyperfine-isotope structure and excited state total angular momentum $J$, we measure isotope shifts, hyperfine coefficients, and create King plots to determine their electronic nature. Such knowledge of these UV transitions which analogously exist in other magnetic atoms is important for optically populating the first excited state and can be used towards creating an optical clock, high resolution imaging in quantum gas microscopy, and probing lanthanide nuclei with enhanced Schiff moments in search of physics beyond the standard model.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2604.07283•Physical Review Research•Apr 9, 2026•0 citations

Two‐Photon Excitation Spectra of Trivalent Rare‐Earth Ion Luminescence in Crystals

Pavel A Apanasevich, R. I. Gintoft, V. S. Korol'kov +2 more

Abstract Theoretical and experimental investigations are made of two‐photon absorption spectra of trivalent rare‐earth ions in crystals. Effective cross‐sections, selection rules, and relative intensities of the components are found. The most intensive two‐photon transitions are established. Two‐photon excitation spectra of luminescence of Er3+ and Ho3+ ions in CaF2 are obtained and effective excitation cross‐sections are measured using a tunable dye laser (715 to 850 nm). It is shown that the spectra have a peculiar structure which differs considerably from that of the one‐photon absorption spectra. The experimental results agree with theory. It is established that one of the levels in Ho3+ is the level 5G6 rather than 3K7 usually assumed.

physica status solidi (b)•Aug 1, 1973•41 citations
The energy levels of lanthanide ions have been studied in great detail in the energy range up to 40000cm\ensuremath−140\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}40000cm\ensuremath−1 (250nm)(250\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm})(250nm). Recently an increased interest in the high energy levels between 40 000 and 70000cm\ensuremath−170\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}70000cm\ensuremath−1 has emerged, partly triggered by the need for new luminescent materials for vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation. Using synchrotron radiation many new energy levels have been discovered for various lanthanide ions. However, the spectral resolution of a synchrotron is limited and to resolve the complete energy level structure higher resolution tunable lasers are required. Unfortunately no high-resolution tunable lasers are available in the VUV. To overcome this problem two-photon spectroscopy may be applied. In this paper resonant two-photon spectroscopy is applied to measure the energy level structure of Gd3+{\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}Gd3+ in fluorides. Excited state excitation (ESE) from the 6P7∕2^{6}P_{7∕2}6P7∕2​ level is shown to provide high-resolution spectra of the high energy levels of Gd3+{\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}Gd3+. The extension of the energy level structure is used to improve energy level calculations, which is especially beneficial for Gd3+{\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}Gd3+ where only a limited number of energy levels is available from conventional laser spectroscopy.
A systematic spectroscopic study of the 4f7{4f}^{7}4f7 energy levels of Gd3+{\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}Gd3+ in LiYF4{\mathrm{LiYF}}_{4}LiYF4​ in the vacuum-ultraviolet spectral region $(50000--70000{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1})$ is reported. Using energy-level calculations, all observed spectral lines could be assigned to free-ion term symbols (including term symbols with unusually high LLL and J,J,J, e.g., a 2Q23/2{}^{2}{Q}_{23/2}2Q23/2​ level around $67000{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$). From the 6GJ{}^{6}{G}_{J}6GJ​ levels around $50000{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ quantum cutting (or two-photon luminescence, photon-cascade emission) is observed: the emission of a red photon due to the ${}^{6}{G}_{J}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{6}{P}_{J}$ transition is followed by the emission of an ultraviolet photon due to the ${}^{6}{P}_{J}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{8}{S}_{7/2}$ transition.
Highly excited Rydberg states of lanthanides are a promising, yet largely unexplored, playground for quantum studies. Here, we report on the first high-resolution spectroscopy of 162Dy obtained by two-color trap depletion spectroscopy in a magneto-optical trap. The absolute excitation frequency of over 700 states with effective principal quantum number n between 21 and 130 is measured with an accuracy of 20 MHz. Most states are assigned to the 8 different series converging to the first 4f10(5I8)6s(2S1/2) J = 17/2 ionization potential. This energy is measured at EIP = 47901.8265 +/- 0.0008 cm-1, improving the precision of the literature value by over an order of magnitude. A multichannel quantum defect theory approach is used to benchmark and refine the assignments and to characterize six observed perturbing states belonging to higher ionization limits. These results pave the way for using dysprosium in Rydberg-based quantum architectures, leveraging the unique properties arising from its complex electronic structure. They also represent a compelling benchmark for ab-initio calculations of open-shell atomic systems.
We report investigations with tunable VUV radiation, employing VUV generation in regions down to the cut-off wavelength of lithium fluorid crystal (~ 110 nm) by frequency tripling of tunable UV from dye laser. -Experiments on multiphoton excitation and ionization of atomic hydrogen with tunable VUV light at Lyman-α, have been carried out with the following objectives: (1) sensitive H and D atom detection by two-photon ionization i. e. 1s ω Lyα → 2 p ω uv → ion , (2) two-photon ionization of H with high resolution at Lyman-α to resolve the hyperfine groundstate doublet, aiming at the production of polarized protons, (3) state selective production of high Rydberg states ( 1 s ω Lyα → 2p ω uv → ns, nd ) , and their ionization, (4) Doppler line shape spectroscopy at Lyman-α applied to recoil energy and momentum distribution measurements of H and D atoms in dissociation processes. -Depending on the objective, different experimental conditions and systems have been employed, for instance atomic beam configuration, mass-spectroscopic ion detection, field ionization in cryogenetic environment, and for Doppler measurements laser induced fluorescence.
The open inner-shell electronic structure of lanthanides with large magnetic moments gives rise to a rich spectrum of transitions available for laser cooling, trapping, and coherent control. Despite this, the large number of ultraviolet (UV) transitions below 400nm have so far been rarely utilized in dipolar atom experiments. Here, we investigate multiple UV ground state transitions in dysprosium. Several of these UV excited states have the largest decay strengths to the ultralong-lived, low-lying first excited state which are comparable to the most commonly used strongest transitions found in dipolar atoms. Using two-dimensional shelving spectroscopy which improves detection sensitivity and provides a straightforward way to determine the hyperfine-isotope structure and excited state total angular momentum JJJ, we measure isotope shifts, hyperfine coefficients, and create King plots to determine their electronic nature. Such knowledge of these UV transitions which analogously exist in other magnetic atoms is important for optically populating the first excited state and can be used towards creating an optical clock, high resolution imaging in quantum gas microscopy, and probing lanthanide nuclei with enhanced Schiff moments in search of physics beyond the standard model.
Abstract Theoretical and experimental investigations are made of two‐photon absorption spectra of trivalent rare‐earth ions in crystals. Effective cross‐sections, selection rules, and relative intensities of the components are found. The most intensive two‐photon transitions are established. Two‐photon excitation spectra of luminescence of Er3+ and Ho3+ ions in CaF2 are obtained and effective excitation cross‐sections are measured using a tunable dye laser (715 to 850 nm). It is shown that the spectra have a peculiar structure which differs considerably from that of the one‐photon absorption spectra. The experimental results agree with theory. It is established that one of the levels in Ho3+ is the level 5G6 rather than 3K7 usually assumed.