Atom-at-a-time laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of nobelium

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Laatiaoui, M, Lauth, W, Backe, H, Block, M, Ackermann, D, Cheal, B, Chhetri, P, Duellmann, CE, Van Duppen, P, Even, J et al (show 15 more authors) (2016) Atom-at-a-time laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of nobelium. Nature, 538. 495 - 501.

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Abstract

Optical spectroscopy of a primordial isotope has traditionally formed the basis for understanding the atomic structure of an element. Such studies have been conducted for most elements1 and theoretical modelling can be performed to high precision2,3, taking into account relativistic effects that scale approximately as the square of the atomic number. However, for the transfermium elements (those with atomic numbers greater than 100), the atomic structure is experimentally unknown. These radioactive elements are produced in nuclear fusion reactions at rates of only a few atoms per second at most and must be studied immediately following their production4, which has so far precluded their optical spectroscopy. Here we report laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of nobelium (No; atomic number 102) in single-atom-at-a-time quantities, in which we identify the ground-state transition 1S0 1P1. By combining this result with data from an observed Rydberg series, we obtain an upper limit for the ionization potential of nobelium. These accurate results from direct laser excitations of outer-shell electrons cannot be achieved using state-of-the-art relativistic many-body calculations5,6,7,8 that include quantum electrodynamic effects, owing to large uncertainties in the modelled transition energies of the complex systems under consideration. Our work opens the door to high-precision measurements of various atomic and nuclear properties of elements heavier than nobelium, and motivates future theoretical work.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Electronic structure of atoms and molecules, Experimental nuclear physics, Superheavy elements
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	28 Nov 2016 08:59
Last Modified:	21 Jan 2021 12:13
DOI:	10.1038/nature19345
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3004674