Hyperfine structure and isotope shift of the 3s-3p transitions of atomic oxygen

Abstract

Using high-resolution saturation spectroscopy, by means of both double heterostructure and multiple quantum-well AlGaAs diode lasers, we investigate the isotope shifts and the hyperfine structure in the 3s-3p transitions of the triplet and quintet systems of atomic oxygen. From the analysis of the signals from17O we can deduce precise values for the hyperfine structure magnetic dipole constants. A theoretical analysis allows us to bring into evidence core polarization effects in the hyperfine structure. By heterodyning two frequency locked lasers, we perform a direct frequency measurement of the isotope effect on the3S1→3P1,2,0 transitions. From the comparison with similar accuracy data on the corresponding quintet transitions, an upper bound to the size of the nuclear volume effect is given, and precise values for the specific mass contributions are consequently obtained.