LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY OF JET-COOLED NiF: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE $\Omega$-TYPE DOUBLING IN THE $\Omega$=1/2 STATES OF THE $3d^9$ GROUND ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
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Date
2012
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Publisher
Ohio State University
Abstract
A recent paper by Hougen \textbf{267} (2011) 23--35.} presents the hypothesis that the relative parities of $\Omega$=1/2 levels in the $3d^9$ complex of NiF may need to be reconsidered, since the experimental determinations reported in the literature \textbf{173} (1995) 70--78.} \textbf{214} (2002) 152-174.} \textbf{207} (2001) 66--69.} via $\Omega$-doubling parameters differ by a sign from those obtained from Hougen's theoretical treatment. We report on an experiment that attempts to resolve the discrepancy via laser-induced fluorescence and dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy of NiF created in the molecular-jet laser-ablation apparatus at the University of New Brunswick. New data involving the [22.9]$^2\Pi_{3/2}$--X $^2\Pi_{3/2}$ and [22.9]$^2\Pi_{3/2}$--[0.25] $^2\Sigma_{1/2}$ transitions were obtained, in which several isotopologues of NiF could be resolved and their spectra analyzed. Dispersed fluorescence spectra were obtained by exciting parity-resolved transitions of the [22.9]$^2\Pi_{3/2}$--X $^2\Pi_{3/2}$ spectrum with a narrow-bandwidth cw laser, then observing the fluorescence to the [0.25] $^2\Sigma_{1/2}$ and [1.5] $^2\Sigma^+_{1/2}$ states with a grating spectrometer. Changes in the dispersed fluorescence pattern as levels of the same $J^{\prime}$ with different parities were excited will be discussed, and the implications for verifying or refuting Hougen's claim will be presented.
Description
Author Institution: Department of Physics and Centre for Laser, Atomic and Molecular Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3; Department of Chemistry and Centre for Laser, Atomic and Molecular Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3