The permanent electric dipole moments and magnetic g factors of uranium monoxide

Abstract

Permanent electric dipole moments and magnetic g factors for uranium monoxide (UO) have been determined from analyses of optical Stark and Zeeman spectra recorded at a spectral resolution that approaches the natural linewidth limit. Numerous branch features in the previously characterized [L. A. Kaledin et al., J. Mol. Spectrosc. 164, 27 (1994)] (0,0) [18403]5-X(1)4 and (0,0) [18404]5-X(1)4 electronic transitions were recorded in the presence of tunable static electric (Stark effect) or magnetic (Zeeman effect) fields. The lines exhibited unusually large Zeeman tuning effects. A ligand field model and an ab initio electronic structure calculation [R. Tyagi, Ph.D. thesis, The Ohio State University (2005)] were used to interpret the ground state properties. The results indicate that the low energy electronic states of UO are sufficiently ionic for the meaningful application of ligand field theory models. The dipole moments and g factors were distinctly different for the three electronic states examined, which implies that these properties may be used to deduce the underlying electronic state configurations.