Electronic spectroscopy of ytterbium in a neon matrix

Abstract

The low-lying electronic states of Yb isolated in a solid Ne matrix are characterized through absorption and emission spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of matrix isolated Yb while pumped into its triplet states have been recorded for the first time and the 6s6p (3)P(J) → 5d6s (3)D(1, 2) transition frequencies obtained. Under matrix conditions, the structure of these states is found to be qualitatively the same as in the free atom, but the intersystem crossing rate is observed to be several orders of magnitude greater. A proposed explanation for this is curve crossings between the bound potential energy surface correlated to the 6s6p (1)P(1) state and the potential energy surfaces correlated to the 5d6s (3)D(1, 2) states in isolation. The potentials of the Yb·Ne dimer in its lowest electronic states are computed ab initio and used in a pairwise cluster model to explicitly demonstrate these curve crossings.

Heat- and light-induced transformations of Yb trapping sites in an Ar matrix

“…The principal components of the experimental setup were the same as those used by our group in earlier experiments. 13 A 1 in. diameter BaF 2 window was chosen as the substrate on which to grow the matrix and thermally anchored to the coldhead of a closed-cycle helium refrigerator (Janis SHI-4-5) in a sample chamber evacuated to a pressure of 10 −5 Pa.…”

“…This three-fold structure resembles that observed in the spectra of the Yb/Ne system, whose emission is less blue-shifted, but still dominated by the singlet component of the 6s6p 3 P J manifold. 13 However, the origins of such structures turn out to be different for the two systems. Figure 3 reveals a pronounced variation in the relative emission intensities of the three features upon annealing and matrix irradiation not seen in the Yb/Ne system.…”

“…Figure 3 reveals a pronounced variation in the relative emission intensities of the three features upon annealing and matrix irradiation not seen in the Yb/Ne system. 13 For this reason, the structure of Yb/Ne emission spectra was assigned to transitions from distinct electronic states. Indeed, lifetime measurements allowed us to assign three Yb/Ne emission features to the 6p 2 3 P 1 → 6s6p 1 P 1 , 6s6p 3 P 1 → 6s 2 1 S 0 , and 6s6p 3 P 0 → 6s 2 1 S 0 transitions, in order of increasing wavelength.…”

“…Indeed, lifetime measurements allowed us to assign three Yb/Ne emission features to the 6p 2 3 P 1 → 6s6p 1 P 1 , 6s6p 3 P 1 → 6s 2 1 S 0 , and 6s6p 3 P 0 → 6s 2 1 S 0 transitions, in order of increasing wavelength. 13 The lifetimes of the Yb( 3 P 1 ) state in RG matrices have been recently measured by the Argonne group. 15 It was found that the Yb/Ar emission, averaged with the intensity profile over the 543-600 nm range, decays exponentially at a rate of 1.8 × 10 6 s −1 , close to the gas-phase value of 1.16 × 10 6 s −1 .…”

Measurement of the Hyperfine Quenching Rate of the Clock Transition in Yb171

“…The HFQ of 3 P 0 is predominantly caused by the admixture of the lowest lying 3 P 1 and 1 P 1 [9]. In solid Ne, we take E( 3 P 0 ) = (565 nm) −1 , E( 3 P 1 ) = (546 nm) −1 , and E( 1 P 1 ) = (396 nm) −1 in the emission mode [14,23]. E( 3 P 1 ) − E( 3 P 0 ) in solid Ne is equal to 616 cm −1 and is changed from its vacuum value (704 cm −1 ) by a factor of 0.875.…”