Helium transition

Abstract. We present a review of the helium spectroscopy, related to transitions between 23S and 23P states around 1083 nm. A detailed description of our measurements, that have produced the most accurate value of the 23Po — 23Pi fine structure interval, is given. It could produce an accurate determination (34 ppb) of the fine structure constant a. Improvements in the experimental set up are presented. In particular, a new frequency reference of the laser system has been developed by frequency lock of a 1083 nm diode laser to iodine hyperfine transitions around its double of frequency. The laser frequency stability, at 1 s timescale, has been improved of, at least, two orders of magnitude, and even better for longer time scales. Simultaneous 3He —4 He spectroscopy, as well as absolute frequency measurements of 1083 nm helium transitions can be allowed by using the Li-locked laser as frequency standard. We discuss the implication of these measurements for a new determination of the isotope and 23 5 Lamb shifts. 

To further improve the accuracy of our FS measurements, the frequency stability of the master laser and the S/N of the 1083 nm helium transitions must be increased. In this way, not only the statistical uncertainty will be improved, but it will also allow a precise experimental check of systematic effects. 

Fig. 8. Time evolution of the relative frequency of the (a)23S —> 23Pi(i/i) and (b)23S —> 23Po(i/o) transitions of helium at 1083 nm with respect to the master laser frequency (vm), alternatively locked on the 23S —> 2 helium transition in a RF discharge cell (o points), or on one hyperfine component of the B-X P(105) 29-0 I2 line ( points). Av = (i/ii0 — vm) — 2291.35987 MHz for o points, and Av = (iu,o — Vm) — 13319.69872 MHz for points. The error bars are one standard deviation of the fit (see text)...

Fig. 8. Time evolution of the relative frequency of the a)2 S —> 2 P yi) and (b)2 S —> 2 Po yo) transitions of helium at 1083 nm with respect to the master laser frequency (I m), alternatively locked on the 2 S 2 P2 helium transition in...

Fig. 2.14 (a) Generation of cross-over saturation signals (b) illustration of cross-overs in the helium transition l P. The cross-over signals are marked by 0 above or below the lines [215]... 

If the scalar order parameter of the Ising model is replaced by a two-component vector n = 2), the XY model results. All important example that satisfies this model is the 3-transition in helium, from superfiuid helium-II... 

We have seen in previous sections that the two-dimensional Ising model yields a syimnetrical heat capacity curve tliat is divergent, but with no discontinuity, and that the experimental heat capacity at the k-transition of helium is finite without a discontinuity. Thus, according to the Elirenfest-Pippard criterion these transitions might be called third-order. 

It has long been known from statistical mechanical theory that a Bose-Einstein ideal gas, which at low temperatures would show condensation of molecules into die ground translational state (a condensation in momentum space rather than in position space), should show a third-order phase transition at the temperature at which this condensation starts. Nonnal helium ( He) is a Bose-Einstein substance, but is far from ideal at low temperatures, and the very real forces between molecules make the >L-transition to He II very different from that predicted for a Bose-Einstein gas. 

Obviously 9 =0 corresponds to the SmA phase. This transition is analogous to the nonnal-superfluid transition in liquid helium and the critical behaviour is described by the AT model. Further details can be found elsewhere [18, 19 and 20]. 

Seven isotopes of helium are known Liquid helium (He4) exists in two forms He41 and He411, with a sharp transition point at 2.174K. He41 (above this temperature) is a normal liquid, but He411 (below it) is unlike any other known substance. It expands on cooling its conductivity for heat is enormous and neither its heat conduction nor viscosity obeys normal rules. 

Ernest O. Lawrence, inventor of the cyclotron) This member of the 5f transition elements (actinide series) was discovered in March 1961 by A. Ghiorso, T. Sikkeland, A.E. Larsh, and R.M. Latimer. A 3-Mg californium target, consisting of a mixture of isotopes of mass number 249, 250, 251, and 252, was bombarded with either lOB or IIB. The electrically charged transmutation nuclei recoiled with an atmosphere of helium and were collected on a thin copper conveyor tape which was then moved to place collected atoms in front of a series of solid-state detectors. The isotope of element 103 produced in this way decayed by emitting an 8.6 MeV alpha particle with a half-life of 8 s. 

Similarly, emits seven helium nuclei and 4 beta particles during its transition through several other elements, until Pb is reached and Th starts the successive elimination of six helium nuclei and 4 beta particles, which leads to Pb. 

Derivation of an energy level diagram shows that it consists of two sets of energy levels, one corresponding to the single lines and the other to the double lines, and that no transitions between the two sets of levels are observed. For this reason it was suggested that helium exists in two separate forms. In 1925 it became clear that, when account is taken of electron spin, the two forms are really singlet helium and triplet helium. 

The latter rule is rigidly obeyed in the observed spectrum of helium. From the accurately known energy levels it is known precisely where to look for transitions between singlet and triplet states but none has been found. 

It is possible to change the conditions in the helium discharge lamp so that the helium is ionized predominantly to He (He II). The radiation is due mainly to the n = 2 — n = transition of He II (analogous to the first member of the Lyman series of the hydrogen atom in Figure 1.1) at 30.4 nm with an energy of 40.81 cY A thin aluminium foil filter can be used to remove any He I radiation. 

Decay of the 1 and 2 lower levels of the laser transitions are rapid down to the 2 level this is depopulated mostly by collisions with helium atoms in the CO2 N2 Fie gas mixture which is used. 

Helium Purification and Liquefaction. HeHum, which is the lowest-boiling gas, has only 1 degree K difference between its normal boiling point (4.2 K) and its critical temperature (5.2 K), and has no classical triple point (26,27). It exhibits a phase transition at its lambda line (miming from 2.18 K at 5.03 kPa (0.73 psia) to 1.76 K at 3.01 MPa (437 psia)) below which it exhibits superfluid properties (27). 

Liquid helium-4 can exist in two different liquid phases liquid helium I, the normal liquid, and liquid helium II, the superfluid, since under certain conditions the latter fluid ac4s as if it had no viscosity. The phase transition between the two hquid phases is identified as the lambda line and where this transition intersects the vapor-pressure curve is designated as the lambda point. Thus, there is no triple point for this fluia as for other fluids. In fact, sohd helium can only exist under a pressure of 2.5 MPa or more. 

Cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy techniques are powerful tools for analyzing the spatial uniformity of stresses in mismatched heterostructures, such as GaAs/Si and GaAs/InP. The stresses in such systems are due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the epitaxial layer and the substrate. The presence of stress in the epitaxial layer leads to the modification of the band structure, and thus affects its electronic properties it also can cause the migration of dislocations, which may lead to the degradation of optoelectronic devices based on such mismatched heterostructures. This application employs low-temperature (preferably liquid-helium) CL microscopy and spectroscopy in conjunction with the known behavior of the optical transitions in the presence of stress to analyze the spatial uniformity of stress in GaAs epitaxial layers. This analysis can reveal,... 

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