REMPI spectroscopy of HfF

The spectrum of electronic states at 30 000-33 000 cm ^-1 in hafnium fluoride has been studied using (1 + 1) resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) and (1+1 ^′) REMPI. Six ^Ω′=3/2 and ten Π1 /2 vibronic bands have been characterized. We report the molecular constants for these bands and estimate the electronic energies of the excited states using a correction derived from the observed isotope shifts. When either of two closely spaced Π1 /2 electronic states is used as an intermediate state to access autoionizing Rydberg levels, qualitatively distinct autoionization spectra are observed. The intermediate state-specificity of the autoionization spectra bodes well for the possibility of using a selected Π1 /2 state as an intermediate state to create ionic HfF ⁺ in various selected quantum states, an important requirement for our electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) search in HfF ⁺. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Huanqian Loh Electrical and Computer Engineering