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Title: Laser spectroscopy of radioactive atoms using the photon-burst technique

Journal Article · · J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States)

The photon-burst technique has been used to perform laser spectroscopy on small samples of accelerator-produced radioactive isotopes. Measurements have been made of the isotope shifts in the resonance transitions of /sup 128/Ba (tau/sub 1/2/ = 2.4 days), /sup 126/Ba (tau/sub 1/2/ = 100 min), and /sup 82/Sr (tau/sub 1/2/ = 24 days). The technique has permitted high-resolution measurements to be performed in a few minutes on atomic beams of --100 atoms/sec of these elements. The laser-spectroscopy measurements of /sup 126/Ba are, to our knowledge, on the smallest samples of radioactive atoms (--10/sup 9/ atoms) used for high-resolution isotope-shift measurements performed to date. A technique is also demonstrated that, by producing a laser beam of spatially varying polarization, reduces optical pumping effects, allowing the photon-burst technique to be extended for use with odd isotopes as well as even.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nuclear Structure Research Laboratory, The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627
OSTI ID:
6835702
Journal Information:
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 4:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English