1 research outputs found
Hyperfine-structure-resolved laser spectroscopy of many-electron highly charged ions
Hyperfine-structures of highly charged ions (HCIs) are favourable
spectroscopic targets for exploring fundamental physics as well as nuclear
properties. Recent proposals of HCI atomic clocks highlight their importance,
especially for many-electron HCIs, and they have been theoretically
investigated by refining atomic-structure calculations. Nonetheless, no
established spectroscopic method is currently available to verify these
theoretical calculations. Here, we demonstrate hyperfine-structure-resolved
laser spectroscopy of HCIs in an electron beam ion trap plasma, employing the
magnetic-dipole transition in 45 of I. Ion-state
manipulation by controlled electron collisions in the well-defined laboratory
plasma enables laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of trapped HCIs. The
observed spectrum of evaporatively cooled ions under the low magnetic field
shows remarkable features reflecting the hyperfine-structures. The present
demonstration using the combined optical and plasma approach provides a new
benchmark for state-of-the-art atomic calculations of hyperfine-structures in
many-electron HCIs and offers possibilities for a variety of unexploited
experiments.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure