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- Gurell, Jonas, 1981-
(författare)
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Laboratory studies of forbidden decay processes in stored ions
- 2008
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Measurements of atomic and ionic data has been an active research area since the beginning of spectroscopic studies. The experimental data deduced from thesestudies are of great interest for our understanding of fundamental as well as applied physics. The metastability of certain energy levels has been used toexplain phenomena in widely different fields ranging from the principles of the laser to observations of forbidden spectral lines originating fromastrophysical objects. Eventhough measurements of radiative lifetimes have been carried out for many decades new interesting results are still found in theexplanation of phenomena observed in these studies. The technological development in the field of atomic physics has provided researchers with several toolswhich have opened up completely new possibilities in recent years. Atoms and ions can now be stored for long times which allows studies of extremely weakprocesses. In this thesis results from studies of weak radiative decays of metastable levels are presented. The measurements were carried out utilizing a laserprobing technique together with ions stored in the ion storage ring CRYRING at the Manne Siegbahn laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden. The longest radiativelifetime measured so far in a storage ring, 89 s in singly ionized barium, is presented along with a completely new method for determining extremelylong radiative lifetimes. The thesis also includes new interesting results from lifetime measurements in argon which revealed the unexpected importance of an E3 decay channel. This is to the best of our knowledge the first ever observation of an E3 transition rate of this magnitude in a singlycharged ion. All lifetime measurements are presented with complementary calculations by our collaborators at Université de Mons-Hainaut and Université de Liège, Belgium. The studies of BaII are also part of a collaboration with the Institute of solid state physics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
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| 2. |
- Gurell, Jonas, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Laser-probing measurements and calculations of lifetimes of the 5d 2D3/2 and 5d 2D5/2 metastable levels in Ba II
- 2007
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Ingår i: Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. - 1050-2947 .- 1094-1622. ; 75:5, s. 052506-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The two metastable levels 5d 2D3∕2 and 5d 2D5∕2 in Ba II both show extremely long lifetimes of the order of several tens of seconds each. This has been found both by experiments and by theoretical predictions. The small transition probabilities associated with these two levels make them interesting and challenging for theoreticians as well as for experimentalists. Several calculations and measurements of these two lifetimes have been made previously but discrepancies between the results are present. This article presents values of τ=89.4±15.6 s for the 2D3∕2 level and τ=32.0±4.6 s for the 2D5∕2 level measured in a beam-laser experiment performed at the ion storage ring CRYRING. These values are supported by our new calculations resulting in τ=82.0 s for the 2D3∕2 level and τ=31.6 s for the 2D5∕2 level.
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| 3. |
- Gurell, Jonas, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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The FERRUM project : Transition probabilities for forbidden lines in [Fe II] and experimental metastable lifetimes
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 508:1, s. 525-529
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Accurate transition probabilities for forbidden lines are important diagnostic parameters for low-density astrophysical plasmas. In this paper we present experimental atomic data for forbidden [Fe II] transitions that are observed as strong features in astrophysical spectra. Aims. We measure lifetimes for the 3d(6)((3)G)4s a (4)G(11/2) and 3d(6)((3)D)4s b (4)D(1/2) metastable levels in Fe II and experimental transition probabilities for the forbidden transitions 3d(7) a (4)F(7/2,9/2)-3d(6)((3)G)4s a (4)G(11/2). Methods. The lifetimes were measured at the ion storage ring facility CRYRING using a laser probing technique. Astrophysical branching fractions were obtained from spectra of Eta Carinae, obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The lifetimes and branching fractions were combined to yield absolute transition probabilities. Results. The lifetimes of the a (4)G(11/2) and the b (4)D(1/2) levels have been measured and have the following values, tau = 0.75 +/- 0.10 s and tau = 0.54 +/- 0.03 s respectively. Furthermore, we have determined the transition probabilities for two forbidden transitions of a (4)F(7/2,9/2)-a (4)G(11/2) at 4243.97 and 4346.85 angstrom. Both the lifetimes and the transition probabilities are compared to calculated values in the literature.
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| 4. |
- Hartman, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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The FERRUM project : experimental and theoretical transition rates of forbidden [Sc II] lines and radiative lifetimes of metastable ScII levels
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 480:2, s. 575-580
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. In many plasmas, long-lived metastable atomic levels are depopulated by collisions (quenched) before they decay radiatively. In low-density regions, however, the low collision rate may allow depopulation by electric dipole (E1) forbidden radiative transitions, so-called forbidden lines (mainly M1 and E2 transitions). If the atomic transition data are known, these lines are indicators of physical plasma conditions and used for abundance determination. Aims. Transition rates can be derived by combining relative intensities between the decay channels, so-called branching fractions (BFs), and the radiative lifetime of the common upper level. We use this approach for forbidden [Sc II] lines, along with new calculations. Methods. Neither BFs for forbidden lines, nor lifetimes of metastable levels, are easily measured in a laboratory. Therefore, astrophysical BFs measured in Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) spectra of the strontium filament of Eta Carinae are combined with lifetime measurements using a laser probing technique on a stored ion-beam (CRYRING facility, MSL, Stockholm). These quantities are used to derive the absolute transition rates (A-values). New theoretical transition rates and lifetimes are calulated using the CIV3 code. Results. We report experimental lifetimes of the Sc II levels 3d(2) a(3)P(0,1,2) with lifetimes 1.28, 1.42, and 1.24 s, respectively, and transition rates for lines from these levels down to 3d4s a(3)D in the region 8270-8390 angstrom. These are the most important forbidden [Sc II] transitions. New calculations for lines and metastable lifetimes are also presented, and are in good agreement with the experimental data.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Lundin, Peter, 1973-
(författare)
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Laser Spectroscopic Investigations of Decay Properties in Stored Ions
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Investigations and measurements of metastable states are in many ways very important. Spectroscopists, theorists and astrophysicists have all great interest and requirements regarding knowledge about such states and their properties. One of the interesting properties is the lifetime of each state and lifetime measurements are therefore of great importance. It is necessary to have a long observation time when performing investigations on metastable states in ions and there are some different methods to fulfill this requirement. One method to store ions is to use an ion storage ring in which the ions are bent in circle by a magnetic or an electrostatic field. The storage ring method combined with a laser probing technique constitutes the basis for the papers described in this thesis. The thesis also contains some theoretical background to the experiments together with explanations regarding the experimental setup, the procedure for the laser probing technique and the systematic effects that have to be considered. The thesis includes results from nine different positive and negative singly charged ions. The experimental and theoretical results are presented and compared. The experiments have been done in collaboration with E. Biémont's theoretical group in Belgium, with S. Johansson's astrophysical group in Lund and D. Hanstorp's group in Gothenburg.
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| 8. |
- Lundin, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Metastable levels in ScII : lifetime measurements and calculations
- 2008
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Ingår i: Physica Scripta. - : IOP Publishing. - 0031-8949 .- 1402-4896 .- 0281-1847. ; 78:1, s. 015301-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The lifetime of the metastable level 3d(21)G(4) in a singly charged scandium has been experimentally investigated at the ion storage ring CRYRING. A laser probing technique has been used for the studies. We also report calculated lifetimes and transition rates for 10 metastable levels in Sc II, including the 3d(21)G(4) state, by calculations using configuration interaction wave functions. The lifetime of the (1)G(4) level is experimentally determined to be tau(exp) = 2.64 +/- 0.18 s and is in good agreement with the theoretical calculation tau(th) = 2.84 s.
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| 9. |
- Palmeri, Patrick, et al.
(författare)
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Lifetimes of metastable levels of singly ionized titanium : theory and experiment
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics B. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-4075 .- 1361-6455. ; 41:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents new theoretical lifetimes of metastable levels in singly ionized titanium, Ti II. Along with the lifetimes, transition probabilities for several decay channels from these metastable levels are presented. The calculations are supported by experimental lifetime determinations of the 3d3 b 2D5/2 and 3d2(3P)4s b 2P3/2 levels along with revised values of the previously published lifetimes of the 3d2(3P)4s b 4P5/2 and 3d2(3P)4s b 2P1/2 levels originating partly from a reanalysis utilizing a recently developed method applied on the previously recorded data and partly from new measurements. The presented theoretical investigation of lifetimes of metastable levels in Ti II shows that the HFR calculations are in general compatible with measurements performed using the ion storage ring CRYRING of Stockholm University. The transition probabilities of forbidden lines derived from the new lifetime values will be useful for the diagnostics of low density laboratory or astrophysical plasmas, particularly those encountered in the strontium filament found in the ejecta of η Carinae.
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| 10. |
- Schef, Peter, 1977-
(författare)
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Weak Atomic Interactions
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- An atom or ion can change quantum state, usually through emission or absorption of a photon. The photon has the same energy as the energy difference between the states of the transition. The states, or energy levels, of an atom are quantized and light emitted, or absorbed, from the atom is therefore of specific wavelengths, giving spectral lines. The spectrum of an atomic ion is unique and contains information of the structure and energy levels of the ion. The spectrum of an atom can be used as a fingerprint in determinations of the abundance of the element in different objects.This thesis is focused on some weak effects observed by spectroscopy. Although the effects are weak, they turn out to be of great importance. According to quantum mechanics transitions between certain states are not allowed. Here the weak effects open the possibility for transitions. Spectral lines from forbidden transitions are very weak and difficult to observe under ordinary laboratorial conditions, but they are commonly observed from astrophysical objects and can be very useful for diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas. The first reported observation of forbidden lines was from an astrophysical object and at that time supposed to be from new, previous unknown, elements. If all possible decay channels from an energy level are forbidden, the energy level is metastable and has usually a lifetime 10$^8$ times longer than an ordinary excited state. Measurements of such long lifetimes are difficult since the ion need to be confined during the observation time. Confinement of ions can be achieved with a storage device, such as a storage ring or a trap, where the ions are stored without interacting with each other or the surroundings.A laser probing technique has been developed at the storage ring CRYRING, for measurements of lifetimes of metastable states. The technique has now been improved for measurement of longer lifetimes. The technique has also been modified to fit when measuring on negative ions. Results of lifetime measurements are reported and the techniques and methods used are described.Another weak effect is hyperfine interaction, which splits the energy levels of an atom or ion. Hyperfine splitting is very small and usually special spectral techniques are needed to resolve such structure. A laser can, in combination with an electromagnetic radio-frequency field, be used for accurate determination of hyperfine structures in atomic ions. Such measurements are also important for evaluation of astrophysical properties, since hyperfine structure can broaden the spectral lines. An experimental setup for such double resonance measurements has been developed and constructed. Results of experimental measurements are reported and the technique is described.
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