Precision Method for Hyperfine-Structure Studies in Low-Abundance Isotopes: The Quadrupole Moment ofCa43

Abstract

Precision hyperfine-structure measurements in the $4s4p{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P_2^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ metastable state of ${}_{}{}^{43}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ were performed using the atomic-beam magnetic-resonance method combined with a single-mode dye laser for the detection. For the first time the electric quadrupole moment of the particularly interesting ${}_{}{}^{43}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ nucleus was accurately determined: $Q\left({}_{}{}^{43}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}\right)=-0.065\mathrm{}\left(20\right)\mathrm{}$ b. In addition, isotope shifts and hyperfine structure in the transition $4s4p{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}P_2^{}{}_{}{}^{}\leftrightarrow 4s5s{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}S_1^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ were obtained using high-resolution laser spectroscopy.