Franck-Condon Factors and Radiative Lifetime of the A^{2}Π_{1/2} - X^{2}Σ^{+} Transition of Ytterbium Monoflouride, YbF

Abstract

The fluorescence spectrum resulting from laser excitation of the A^{2}Π_{1/2} - X^{2}Σ^{+} (0,0) band of ytterbium monofluoride, YbF, has been recorded and analyzed to determine the Franck-Condon factors. The measured values are compared with those predicted from Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) potential energy curves. From the fluorescence decay curve the radiative lifetime of the A^{2}Π_{1/2} state is measured to be 28\pm2 ns, and the corresponding transition dipole moment is 4.39\pm0.16 D. The implications for laser cooling YbF are discussed.

arXiv comment5 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (10)

• Laser cooling of a diatomic molecule
• Measurement of the electron electric dipole moment using YbF molecules
• Radiative force from optical cycling on a diatomic molecule
• Deceleration of neutral molecules in macroscopic traveling traps
• Prospects for measuring the electric dipole moment of the electron using electrically trapped polar molecules
• Lifetime of the A(v'=0) state and Franck-Condon factor of the A-X(0-0) transition of CaF measured by the saturation of laser-induced fluorescence
• Diffusion, thermalization and optical pumping of YbF molecules in a cold buffer gas cell
• Doppler-free laser spectroscopy of buffer gas cooled molecular radicals
• Stark deceleration of CaF molecules in strong- and weak-field seeking states
• Stark shift of the $A^2{\Pi }_{1/2}$ state in ${}^{174}$YbF

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• Design for a fountain of YbF molecules to measure the electron's electric dipole moment
• Rotational state microwave mixing for laser cooling of complex diatomic molecules
• Methods for measuring the electron EDM using ultracold YbF molecules
• Determination of CaOH and CaOCH${}_3$ vibrational branching ratios for direct laser cooling and trapping
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• Hypermetallic Polar Molecules for Precision Measurements
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• New techniques for a measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment
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• Understanding inner-shell excitations in molecules through spectroscopy of the 4f hole states of YbF
• Slowing YbF molecules using radiation pressure
• Spin interferometry in a beam of ultracold molecules