Atomic Physics employing Laser Spectroscopy: Introduction

The main focus of the theoretical program of Dr. Drake and coworkers at the University of Windsor is to perform calculations that are essentially exact for all practical purposes for simple atomic systems, such as helium and lithium, and their isoelectronic ions. The results open the way to fundamental studies of QED effects in a three- or four-body context that has not been explored before. A full bibliography of recent experimental work would contain about 30 references. However, the ultimate goal is not just to test QED, but to use the comparison between theory and experiment to create new tools to perform measurements that could not otherwise be done.\A0

For example, isotope shifts from laser resonance experiments can be used to measure nuclear radii to an accuracy exceeding that of traditional high-energy nuclear scattering methods.\A0 The principle of the method is to calculate all contributions to the isotope shift with sufficient accuracy and reliability that the residual energy shift due to finite nuclear size can be determined from the comparison between theory and experiment.\A0

The first successful demonstration for the radius of ³He relative to ⁴He [35] has motivated to extend this sort of measurements to probe the nuclear charge radius in ⁸Li, ⁹Li, ¹¹Li.\A0 The ¹¹Li case is particularly interesting because it has a halo-nucleus with a ⁹Li core and a neutron pair circulating around it. A comparison of the charge and mass radii would provide important information on this unusual structure.\A0 Its half life of only 8.7 ms and low abundance make conventional scattering measurements difficult.\A0

The proposal is to measure the isotope shift in the 2S - 3S two-photon transition by laser resonance and compare with our theoretical value, including relativistic and QED contributions.\A0 All the tools are now in place to perform these calculations to the necessary accuracy [36].\A0 A recent measurement of the ⁶Li - ⁷Li isotope shift [37] confirms the correctness of our results.\A0 There are many other transitions involving the heavier He-like and Li-like ions that could be studied with the unique opportunities given by the TITAN facility at TRIUMF. In the following the experimental approaches will be described in more detail.

Laser-spectroscopy on singly charged Li ions in a trap

Comparison of experimental with theoretical Li⁺ fine and hyperfine energy intervals provides a stringent test of our understanding of two electron systems. In particular, information is obtained about quantum electrodynamic (QED) contributions that scale to lowest order as Z⁴ a³ times the Rydberg energy, where Z is the nuclear charge and a is the fine structure constant.\A0

Precision spectroscopic measurements of isotope shifts also determine nuclear radii more accurately than is possible using nuclear scattering.\A0 Lithium has two stable isotopes ^6,7Li and three unstable isotopes ^8,9,11Li. The low lying Li⁺ energy states are shown below.\A0 In particular, Li⁺ has a 1s2s ³S₁ state having a lifetime of 59 \B1 13 sec.\A0 Precision laser spectroscopic measurements have been done using the 1s2s ³S₁ \AE 1s2p ³P_0,1,2 transition that occurs at a wavelength of 548.5 nm where narrow linewidth ring dye lasers readily operate. Recent measurements have been limited to an uncertainty of about 0.5 MHz by the velocity spread of a Li⁺ beam.

We therefore propose inserting Li⁺ in an ion trap and applying laser cooling techniques to reduce the ion velocity [39].\A0 The Li⁺ 1s2s ³S₁ metastable state has been successfully loaded into an ion trap [40]. Laser cooling should be possible as the 1s2p ³P state has a lifetime of 44 ns and decays primarily to the 1s2s ³S₁ state.\A0 The largest branching rate to the ground state (1s2p ³P₁ \AE (1s)^{2 1}S₀) has been estimated to be 1.787 x 10⁴ sec^-1 [41].\A0 The remaining branching rates (1s2p ³P_0,2 \AE (1s)^{2 1}S₀) are suppressed by several orders of magnitude due to violation of additional selection rules. \A0Hence, laser cooling should be possible by detuning the laser frequency slightly below either of the 1s2s ³S₁ \AE 1s2p ³P_0,2 transitions. The proposed ion trap will permit the study of the stable and unstable Li isotopes.

Fig.4: Left: Energy level scheme of Li, the relevant transitions are indicated.

The work on ^6,7Li⁺ will not only yield results of inherent interest but will also test/prepare the ion trap for studies of radioactive ions produced at TRIUMF as well as train students.\A0 Lithium ions can be generated by collision of an atomic beam with an electron beam. The electron excitation results in about 0.1% of the ions occupying the 1s2s ³S₁ metastable state.

If the on-line sources of ISAC are employed, higher temperatures can be used, resulting in a significant increase of the fraction in the metastable state. Light produced by a commercial ring dye laser would then be used to laser cool and probe the ions.\A0 The ultimate resolution of the measurements will be limited by the natural linewidth of the 1s2p ³P state which is only 3.6 MHz.\A0 Hence, even a 1% determination of the line center would improve the 1s2p ³P fine and hyperfine structure splittings by more than an order of magnitude.\A0

Isotope shifts would be found by measuring absolute transition frequencies using the so called femtosecond frequency comb technology. The measurements program would clearly start with off-line sources and stable isotopes, and in a later stage, when all necessary tools are developed, could be extended to the short-lived species where the production yield, for example for ¹¹Li, is more than an order of magnitude higher than at ISOLDE.