Abstract

High-resolution (few MHz) absorption spectroscopy was demonstrated by using an atomic beam and a laser. The Doppler absorption width of natural-abundance Rb was reduced from ≈570 to 15 MHz (5.7-MHz natural width) by using an atomic beam. A magnetic field of about 75 kOe was used to scan the six ⁸⁵Rb and four ⁸⁷Rb m_I components of the D₁ line ( $5^2{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ to $5^2{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}$; 7947.64 Å in zero field) into coincidence with the 7944.66-Å 1-μs ²⁰²Hg ii laser pulses. From the known ground- and excited-state hyperfine constants and the Breit–Rabi formula, we conclude that the ⁸⁷Rb absorption spectrum is shifted up by 77±3 MHz relative to that of ⁸⁵Rb. This uncorrected isotope shift can be compared with previous measurements of 105±15 and 77.7±2.1 MHz. Improved stability and a narrower atomic beam would permit reduction of the isotope-shift and hyperfine-constant errors to below 1 MHz.

© 1972 Optical Society of America

Optical Study of the Hyperfine Structure of the Rubidium Resonance Lines*

James R. Beacham and Kenneth L. Andrew
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Characteristics of the He iin = 4–5 (10 124 Å) and n = 4–6 (6560 Å) Line Complexes in a Low-Temperature Hollow Cathode*

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Quantum correlated light beams from non-degenerate four-wave mixing in an atomic vapor: the D1 and D2 lines of ⁸⁵Rb and ⁸⁷Rb

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Opt. Express 17(19) 16722-16730 (2009)

Hyperfine Structure and Isotope Shift of 30-Year ²⁰⁷Bi in the 3067-Å Resonance Line*

R. Chuckrow and H. H. Stroke
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 61(2) 218-222 (1971)