Investigation of high-lying even-parity levels of atomic samarium with multi-color photoionization technique: Energies and radiative lifetimes

Abstract

We have investigated high-lying even-parity energy levels of atomic samarium in the energy region 32,156.3–32,886.4 cm−1 using two-color three-step photoionization technique. The experiments have been carried out in an atomic beam coupled to a linear time of flight mass spectrometer. The analysis of the photoionization spectra has resulted in the identification of twenty-five high-lying even-parity energy levels of atomic samarium. These include the confirmation of fifteen energy levels reported earlier while the remaining ten energy levels are new. The observed relative photoionization signal intensities of the corresponding transitions are also reported. The possible total angular momenta of the newly discovered energy levels have been assigned by the total angular momentum selection rules. Further, the radiative lifetimes of twenty high-lying even-parity energy levels of atomic samarium were measured for the first time by delayed three-color three-photon resonance ionization spectroscopy via a pump-probe method.