Fine-structure splittings in2Fstates of rubidium via three-step laser spectroscopy

Abstract

Three-step laser excitation is employed to measure the ${}^{2}{F}_{5/2}{\ensuremath{-}}^{2}{F}_{7/2}$ fine-structure splittings in seven $n{}^{2}F$ manifolds of Rb for $4<~n<~10.$ The use of cycling transitions in the excitation process intensifies the spectra and simplifies signal detection. This sequence of seven measured splittings should serve as a useful test of fine-structure calculations in heavy alkali-metal atoms where complicated, noncentral field treatments of core polarization, configuration mixing, electron correlation, and/or relativistic effects are generally required.