Measurement of the hyperfine structure of the 4d2D 3/2,5/2 levels and isotope shifts of the 4p2p 3/2 ? 4d2D3/2 and 4p2p 3/2 ? 4d2D5/2 transitions in gallium 69 and 71

The hyperfine structure of the 4d2D3/2,5/2 levels of 69,71Ga is determined. The 4p2P3/2 ? 4d2D3/2 (294.50-nm) and 4p2P3/2 ? 4d2D5/2 (294.45-nm) transitions are studied by laser-induced fluorescence in an atomic Ga beam. The hyperfine A constant measured for the 4d2D5/2 level is 77.3 ± 0.9 MHz for 69Ga and 97.9 ± 0.7 MHz for 71Ga (3s errors). The A constant measured for the 4d2D3/2 level is -36.3 ± 2.2 MHz for 69Ga and -46.2 ± 3.8 MHz for 71Ga. These measurements correct sign errors in the previous determination of these constants. For 69Ga the hyperfine B constants measured for the 4d2D5/2 and the 4d2D 3/2 levels are 5.3 ± 4.1 MHz and 4.6 ± 4.2 MHz, respectively. The isotope shift is determined to be 114 ± 8 MHz for the 4p2P3/2 ? 4d2D3/2 transition and 115 ± 7 MHz for the 4p2P3/2 ± 4d 2D5/2 transition. The lines of 71Ga are shifted to the blue. This is in agreement with previous measurement

Mobility of thorium ions in liquid xenon

We present a measurement of the $^{226}$Th ion mobility in LXe at 163.0 K and 0.9 bar. The result obtained, 0.240$\pm$0.011 (stat) $\pm$0.011 (syst) cm$^{2}$/(kV-s), is compared with a popular model of ion transport.Comment: 6.5 pages,

Phenomenology of the Lense-Thirring effect in the Solar System

Recent years have seen increasing efforts to directly measure some aspects of the general relativistic gravitomagnetic interaction in several astronomical scenarios in the solar system. After briefly overviewing the concept of gravitomagnetism from a theoretical point of view, we review the performed or proposed attempts to detect the Lense-Thirring effect affecting the orbital motions of natural and artificial bodies in the gravitational fields of the Sun, Earth, Mars and Jupiter. In particular, we will focus on the evaluation of the impact of several sources of systematic uncertainties of dynamical origin to realistically elucidate the present and future perspectives in directly measuring such an elusive relativistic effect.Comment: LaTex, 51 pages, 14 figures, 22 tables. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Science (ApSS). Some uncited references in the text now correctly quoted. One reference added. A footnote adde

[Photon Burst Mass Spectrometry Technique.] Final Report

The basic tools have been developed and demonstrated for selective detection of Kr isotopes in the Photon Burst Mass Spectrometry technique. The effort is divided into: photon burst measurements on Mg{sup +} demonstrating high isotopic selectivity, charge exchange of Kr{sup +} with Cs and Rb to produce metastable Kr atoms, development of a diode laser system for photon burst detection of Kr{sup +}, and measurements of photon bursts detection of Kr

Photon burst mass spectrometry for the measurement of {sup 85}Kr at ambient levels

Photon Burst Mass Spectrometry has been used to measure {sup 85}Kr in a sample with an abundance of 6 x 10{sup {minus}9}. Improvements in detection efficiency by the use of avalanche photodiodes cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature are reported, which should make possible measurement of {sup 85}Kr at the ambient atmospheric abundance of 10{sup {minus}11}. Potential applications include nuclear monitoring, atmospheric transport, and dating young ground water up to 40 years