Laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of thorium

Li, Ruohong; Liu, Yuan; Stracener, Daniel W.; Lassen, Jens

doi:10.1088/1361-6455/ae1f73

Laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of thorium

Journal Article · Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 EST 2025 · Journal of Physics. B, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6455/ae1f73· OSTI ID:3012492

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TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC (Canada); Univ. of Windsor, ON (Canada); Saint Mary's Univ., Halifax NS (Canada)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC (Canada); Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB (Canada); Simon Fraser Univ., Burnaby, BC (Canada)

High-lying Rydberg and autoionizing (AI) states of thorium (Th) have been studied via resonance laser ionization spectroscopy at both TRIUMF Canada’s particle accelerator center and Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). Multiple Rydberg series converging to the ionization potential (IP) were observed via different stepwise laser excitation schemes and were assigned to be the 6d²7s (⁴F_3/2) np, nd, and nf series. Analysis of these series enabled the determination of the IP to be 50 868.735(54) cm⁻¹, which improved the precision by two orders of magnitude over the current adopted NIST value of 50 867(2) cm⁻¹. Additionally, four AI Rydberg series were identified and assigned to nf and nd series converging to the 6d²7s ⁴F_5/2 and 6d7s² ²D_3/2 metastable states of Th⁺. In conclusion, the measured energies of the Rydberg and AI Rydberg states are reported, and observed perturbations within the series are discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 3012492

Journal Information:: Journal of Physics. B, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Physics. B, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 58; ISSN 0953-4075; ISSN 1361-6455

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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ionization potential
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