Researchers at the Laboratoire Aimé Cotton in France have made a remarkable breakthrough in the field of atomic spectroscopy, revealing 20 previously undetected energy levels in the infrared spectrum of protactinium. This discovery could lead to a deeper understanding of atomic structures and interactions, paving the way for exciting advancements in atomic and molecular physics.
Game changer: Fourier Transform Spectroscopy
EuropulsPhysical Journal D has just published a rare review of progress in the field of atomic spectroscopy, motivated substantially by the advance of Fourier transform spectroscopy. With this sophisticated mathematical method, spectral lines can be analyzed accurately so that even minute energy levels in atomic structures can be identified.
Now this cutting edge technique was been used by Sophie Kröger from the Berlin University of Technology and Economics for Infrared(IR)spectrum of protactinium- the element with a very complex hyperfine structure. Kröger compared these new experimental hyperfine peak wavelengths with previous calculations, and so was able to unambiguously identify 20 hyperfine levels in the structure of protactinium that had hitherto remained hidden from all earlier methods.
A Peek into the Atomic Hyperfine Structures
Atomic hyperfine structures are small deviations in atomic energy levels due to the intricate electromagnetic interplay between an atom’s nuclei and its surrounding orbits of electrons. These minor differences show up as separate peaks on the IR spectra and allow to us learn a lot about what happening at the atomic level.
Protactinium is quite a complex element with a complicated hyperfine splitting, so in her study Kröger looked at the IR spectrum of protactinium. Using advanced Fourier transform spectroscopy methods, she vastly improved the precision of previous measurements which allowed her to discover 20 new hyperfine energy levels in protactinium.
This discovery is not only a new frontier of atomic structure, but also reflects the progress of precision in atomic spectrum measurement. This method already “holds great promise for enabling us to explore the basic properties of atoms and their interactions at a new level”, predicts Kröger, foreshadowing novel forefront discoveries in the domain of atomic and molecular physics as well.
Conclusion
Sophie Kröger and her team from the Laboratoire Aimé Cotton in France made an important contribution to atomic spectroscopy research. Using Fourier transform spectroscopy, the researchers have found up to 20 new energy levels in the hyperfine structure of protactinium which could provide valuable insight into atomic structures and interactions. The advance marks the fantastic progress in a precision of atomic spectrum measurement, and toward elucidation about the most fundamental landscape.
