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arXiv · 1907.06879

Lifetime Measurements of the $A^2\Pi_{1/2}$ and $A^2\Pi_{3/2}$ States in BaF

P. Aggarwal·V. R. Marshall·H. L. Bethlem·A. Boeschoten·A. Borschevsky·M. Denis·K. Esajas·Y. Hao·S. Hoekstra·K. Jungmann·T. B. Meijknecht·M. C. Mooij·R. G. E. Timmermans·A. Touwen·W. Ubachs·S. M. Vermeulen·L. Willmann·Y. Yin·A. Zapara
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Abstract

Time resolved detection of laser induced fluorescence from pulsed excitation of electronic states in barium monofluoride (BaF) molecules has been performed in order to determine the lifetimes of the $A^2\Pi_{1/2}$ and $A^2\Pi_{3/2}$ states. The method permits control over experimental parameters such that systematic biases in the interpretation of the data can be controlled to below $10^{-3}$ relative accuracy. The statistically limited values for the lifetimes of the $A^2\Pi_{1/2}(\nu=0)$ and $A^2\Pi_{3/2}(\nu=0)$ states are 57.1(3) ns and 47.9(7)~ns, respectively. The ratio of these values is in good agreement with scaling for the different excitation energies. The investigated molecular states are of relevance for an experimental search for a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron in BaF.

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P. Aggarwal, V. R. Marshall, H. L. Bethlem, A. Boeschoten, A. Borschevsky, M. Denis, K. Esajas, Y. Hao, S. Hoekstra, K. Jungmann, T. B. Meijknecht, M. C. Mooij, R. G. E. Timmermans, A. Touwen, W. Ubachs, S. M. Vermeulen, L. Willmann, Y. Yin, A. Zapara. 2019-07-16. Lifetime Measurements of the $A^2\Pi_{1/2}$ and $A^2\Pi_{3/2}$ States in BaF. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.100.052503

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