Large-scale multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock and configuration-interaction calculations of the transition probability and hyperfine structures in the sodium resonance transition

Evidence of Two-Source King Plot Nonlinearity in Spectroscopic Search for New Boson

Optical precision spectroscopy of isotope shifts can be used to test for new forces beyond the standard model, and to determine basic properties of atomic nuclei. We measure isotope shifts on the highly forbidden ^{2}S_{1/2}→^{2}F_{7/2} octupole transition of trapped ^{168,170,172,174,176}Yb ions. When combined with previous measurements in Yb^{+} and very recent measurements in Yb, the data reveal a King plot nonlinearity of up to 240σ. The trends exhibited by experimental data are explained by nuclear density functional theory calculations with the Fayans functional. We also find, with 4.3σ confidence, that there is a second distinct source of nonlinearity, and discuss its possible origin.

Evidence for Nonlinear Isotope Shift in Yb^{+} Search for New Boson

We measure isotope shifts for five Yb^{+} isotopes with zero nuclear spin on two narrow optical quadrupole transitions ^{2}S_{1/2}→^{2}D_{3/2}, ^{2}S_{1/2}→^{2}D_{5/2} with an accuracy of ∼300  Hz. The corresponding King plot shows a 3×10^{-7} deviation from linearity at the 3σ uncertainty level. Such a nonlinearity can indicate physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) in the form of a new bosonic force carrier, or arise from higher-order nuclear effects within the SM. We identify the quadratic field shift as a possible nuclear contributor to the nonlinearity at the observed scale, and show how the nonlinearity pattern can be used in future, more accurate measurements to separate a new-boson signal from nuclear effects.

Accurate lineshape spectroscopy and the Boltzmann constant

Spectroscopy has an illustrious history delivering serendipitous discoveries and providing a stringent testbed for new physical predictions, including applications from trace materials detection, to understanding the atmospheres of stars and planets, and even constraining cosmological models. Reaching fundamental-noise limits permits optimal extraction of spectroscopic information from an absorption measurement. Here, we demonstrate a quantum-limited spectrometer that delivers high-precision measurements of the absorption lineshape. These measurements yield a very accurate measurement of the excited-state (6P1/2) hyperfine splitting in Cs, and reveals a breakdown in the well-known Voigt spectral profile. We develop a theoretical model that accounts for this breakdown, explaining the observations to within the shot-noise limit. Our model enables us to infer the thermal velocity dispersion of the Cs vapour with an uncertainty of 35 p.p.m. within an hour. This allows us to determine a value for Boltzmann's constant with a precision of 6 p.p.m., and an uncertainty of 71 p.p.m.

Investigation of structure and dynamics in the sodium metallocenes CpNa and CpNa·THF via solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction and computational modelling

Solid-state (23) Na NMR spectra of two organometallic complexes, cyclopentadienylsodium (CpNa) and the tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvate of CpNa (CpNa·THF), are presented. Analytical simulations of experimental spectra and calculated (23) Na electric-field gradient (EFG) tensors confirm that both complexes are present in microcrystalline samples of CpNa recrystallized from THF. For the solvate, (23) Na NMR experiments at 9.4 T and 11.7 T elucidate sodium chemical shielding (CS) tensor parameters, and establish that the EFG and CS tensor frames are non-coincident. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments are used to determine the crystal structure of CpNa·THF: Cmca (a = 9.3242(15) Å, b = 20.611(3) Å, c = 9.8236(14) Å, α = β = γ = 90° , V = 1887.9(5)Å(3) , Z = 8). For CpNa, (23) Na NMR data acquired at multiple field strengths establish sodium CS tensor parameters more precisely than in previous reports. Variable-temperature (VT) powder XRD (pXRD) experiments determine the temperature dependence of the CpNa unit cell parameters. The combination of (23) Na quadrupolar NMR parameters, pXRD data and calculations of (23) Na EFG tensors is used to examine various models of dynamic motion in the solid state. It is proposed that the sodium atom in CpNa undergoes an anisotropic, temperature-dependent, low frequency motion within the ab crystallographic plane, in contrast with previous models.

Periodic ab initio calculation of nuclear quadrupole parameters as an assignment tool in solid-state NMR spectroscopy: applications to 23Na NMR spectra of crystalline materials

Periodic ab initio HF calculations using the CRYSTAL code have been used to calculate (23)Na NMR quadrupole parameters for a wide range of crystalline sodium compounds including Na(3)OCl. An approach is developed that can be used routinely as an alternative to point-charge modelling schemes for the assignment of distinct lines in (23)Na NMR spectra to specific crystallographic sodium sites. The calculations are based on standard 3-21 G and 6-21 G molecular basis sets and in each case the same modified basis set for sodium is used for all compounds. The general approach is extendable to other quadrupolar nuclei. For the 3-21 G calculations a 1:1 linear correlation between experimental and calculated values of C(Q)((23)Na) is obtained. The 6-21 G calculations, including the addition of d-polarisation functions, give better accuracy in the calculation of eta((23)Na). The sensitivity of eta((23)Na) to hydrogen atom location is shown to be useful in testing the reported hydrogen-bonded structure of Na(2)HPO(4).

Nuclear quadrupole moments of bismuth

Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock models have been employed to compute the electric field gradient in the ground state of the neutral bismuth atom. Combined with the experimental electric quadrupole hyperfine interaction constant, one obtains for (209)Bi the nuclear quadrupole moment Q = -516 (15) mb, which is almost 40% away from the previously accepted standard value [ -370 (26) mb], and narrows by over an order of magnitude the long-standing, extremely broad array of various results ranging from -370 to -710 mb. The recent Q values of (202-208,210(m)-213)Bi by Pearson et al. suffer a consequent change.