arXiv subjects

E. A. Den Hartog

Publications and source records attributed to E. A. Den Hartog.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Atomic Transition Probabilities for UV and Optical Lines of Gd II

We report new branching fraction measurements for 156 ultraviolet and optical transitions of Gd II. These transitions range in wavelength (wavenumber) from 2574 to 6766 Angstroms (38838 - 14777 cm-1) and originate in one odd-parity and 11 even-parity upper levels. Nine of the 12 levels, accounting for 126 of the 156 transitions, are studied for the first time. Branching fractions are determined for three levels studied previously for the purpose of comparison. The levels studied for the first time are high lying, ranging in energy from 36845 to 40774 cm-1. The branching fractions are determined from emission spectra from two different high-resolution spectrometers. These are combined with radiative lifetimes reported in an earlier study to produce a set of transition probabilities and log(gf) values with accuracy ranging from 5% to 30%. Comparison is made to experimental and theoretical transition probabilities from the literature where such data exist. Abundances derived from these new log(gf) values for 21 Gd II lines in two metal-poor stars yield results consistent with previous studies, and they demonstrate that the new log(gf) values can be used in stellar abundance analysis as a self-consistent extension of previous work.

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arXiv2024

Atomic Transition Probabilities for UV and Optical Lines of Tm II

We report new branching fraction measurements for 224 ultraviolet (UV) and optical transitions of Tm II. These transitions range in wavelength (wavenumber) from 2350 - 6417 Angstroms (42532 - 15579 cm-1) and originate in 13 odd-parity and 24 even-parity upper levels. Thirty-five of the 37 levels, accounting for 213 of the 224 transitions, are studied for the first time. Branching fractions are determined for two levels studied previously for comparison to earlier results. The levels studied for the first time are high-lying, ranging in energy from 35753 - 54989 cm-1. The branching fractions are determined from emission spectra from two different high-resolution spectrometers. These are combined with radiative lifetimes reported in an earlier study to produce a set of transition probabilities and log(gf) values with accuracy ranging from 5 - 30%. Comparison is made to experimental and theoretical transition probabilities from the literature where such data exist. These new log(gf) values are used to derive an abundance from one previously unused Tm II line in the UV spectrum of the r-process-enhanced metal-poor star HD 222925, and this abundance is consistent with previous determinations based on other Tm II lines.

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arXiv2023

Atomic Transition Probabilities for Transitions of Si I and Si II and the Silicon Abundances of Several Very Metal-Poor Stars

We report new measurements of branching fractions for 20 UV and blue lines in the spectrum of neutral silicon (Si I) originating in the 3$s^{2}$3$p$4$s$ $^{3}$P$^{\rm o}_{1,2}$, $^{1}$P$^{\rm o}_{1}$ and 3$s$3$p^{3}$ $^{1}$D$^{\rm o}_{1,2}$ upper levels. Transitions studied include both strong, nearly pure LS multiplets as well as very weak spin-forbidden transitions connected to these upper levels. We also report a new branching fraction measurement of the $^{4}$P$_{1/2}$ - $^{2}$P$^{\rm o}_{1/2,3/2}$ intercombination lines in the spectrum of singly-ionized silicon (Si II). The weak spin-forbidden lines of Si I and Si II provide a stringent test on recent theoretical calculations, to which we make comparison. The branching fractions from this study are combined with previously reported radiative lifetimes to yield transition probabilities and log($gf$)s for these lines. We apply these new measurements to abundance determinations in five metal-poor stars.

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arXiv2021

Atomic Transition Probabilities of Neutral Calcium

The goals of this study are 1) to test the best theoretical transition probabilities for Ca I (a relatively light alkaline earth spectrum) from a modern ab initio calculation using configuration interaction plus many body perturbation theory against the best modern experimental transition probabilities, and 2) to produce as accurate and comprehensive a line list of Ca I transition probabilities as is currently possible based on this comparison. We report new Ca I radiative lifetime measurements from a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) experiment and new emission branching fraction measurements from a 0.5 m focal length grating spectrometer with a detector array. We combine these data for upper levels that have both a new lifetime and new branching fractions to report log(gf)s for two multiplets consisting of nine transitions. Detailed comparisons are made between theory and experiment, including the measurements reported herein and a selected set of previously published experimental transition probabilities. We find that modern theory compares favorably to experimental measurements in most instances where such data exist. A final list of 202 recommended transition probabilities is presented, which covers lines of Ca I with wavelengths ranging from 2200 - 10,000 Angstroms. These are mostly selected from theory, but are augmented with high quality experimental measurements from this work and from the literature. The recommended transition probabilities are used in a redetermination of the Ca abundance in the Sun and in the metal-poor star HD 84937.

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arXiv2021

Improved Atomic Transition Probabilities for UV and Optical Lines of Hf II and Determination of the Hf Abundance in Two Metal-Poor Stars

We report new branching fraction measurements for 199 UV and optical transitions of Hf II. These transitions range in wavelength (wavenumber) from 2068- 6584 A (48322-15183 cm-1) and originate in 17 odd-parity upper levels ranging in energy from 38578-53227 cm-1. The branching fractions are combined with radiative lifetimes reported in an earlier study to produce a set of transition probabilities and log(gf) values with accuracy ranging from 5-25%. Comparison is made to transition probabilities from the literature where such data exist. We use these new transition probabilities to derive improved Hf abundances in two metal-poor stars. HD 196944 is enhanced in s-process elements, and we derive log epsilon (Hf) = -0.72 +/- 0.03 (sigma = 0.09) from 12 Hf II lines. HD 222925 is enhanced in r-process elements, and we derive log epsilon (Hf) = 0.32 +/- 0.03 (sigma = 0.11) from 20 Hf II lines. These measurements greatly expand the number of potentially useful Hf II lines for analysis in UV and optical spectra.

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arXiv2019

Atomic transition probabilities for UV and blue lines of Fe II and abundance determinations in the photospheres of the Sun and metal-poor star HD 84937

We report new branching fractions for 121 UV lines from the low-lying odd-parity levels of Fe II belonging to the z6Do, z6Fo, z6Po, z4Fo, z4Do and z4Po terms of the 3d6(5D)4p configuration. These lines range in wavelength from 2250 - 3280 Å and originate in levels ranging in energy from 38459 - 47626 cm-1. In addition, we report branching fractions for 10 weak blue lines connecting to the z4Do term which range in wavelength from 4173 - 4584 Å. The BFs are combined with radiative lifetimes from the literature to determine transition probabilities and log(gf) values. Comparison is made to selected experimental and theoretical data from the literature. Our new data are applied to iron abundance determinations in the Sun and in metal-poor star HD 84937. For the Sun, eight blue lines yield log ε(Fe) = 7.46 +/- 0.03, in agreement with standard solar abundance estimates. For HD 84937 the observable wavelength range extends to the vacuum UV (λ >= 2327 Å), and from 75 lines we derive log ε(Fe) = 5.26 +/- 0.01 (σ = 0.07), near to the metallicity estimates of past HD 84937 studies.

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arXiv2017

Vanadium Transitions in the Spectrum of Arcturus

We derive a new abundance for vanadium in the bright, mildly metal-poor red giant Arcturus. This star has an excellent high-resolution spectral atlas and well-understood atmospheric parameters, and it displays a rich set of neutral vanadium lines that are available for abundance extraction. We employ a newly recorded set of laboratory FTS spectra to investigate any potential discrepancies in previously reported V I log(gf) values near 900 nm. These new spectra support our earlier laboratory transition data and the calibration method utilized in that study. We then perform a synthetic spectrum analysis of weak V I features in Arcturus, deriving log ε(V) = 3.54 $\pm$ 0.01 (σ = 0.04) from 55 lines. There are no significant abundance trends with wavelength, line strength, or lower excitation energy.

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arXiv2014

Fe I Oscillator Strengths for Transitions from High-lying Even-Parity Levels

New radiative lifetimes, measured to $\pm$ 5 % accuracy, are reported for 31 even-parity levels of Fe I ranging from 45061 cm$^{-1}$ to 56842 cm$^{-1}$. These lifetimes have been measured using single-step and two-step time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence on a slow atomic beam of iron atoms. Branching fractions have been attempted for all of these levels, and completed for 20 levels. This set of levels represents an extension of the collaborative work reported in Ruffoni et al. (2014). The radiative lifetimes combined with the branching fractions yields new oscillator strengths for 203 lines of Fe I. Utilizing a 1D-LTE model of the solar photosphere, spectral syntheses for a subset of these lines which are unblended in the solar spectrum yields a mean iron abundance of = 7.45 $\pm$ 0.06.

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arXiv2014

Improved V II log($gf$) Values, Hyperfine Structure Constants, and Abundance Determinations in the Photospheres of the Sun and Metal-poor Star HD 84937

New experimental absolute atomic transition probabilities are reported for 203 lines of V II. Branching fractions are measured from spectra recorded using a Fourier transform spectrometer and an echelle spectrometer. The branching fractions are normalized with radiative lifetime measurements to determine the new transition probabilities. Generally good agreement is found between this work and previously reported V II transition probabilities. Use of two spectrometers, independent radiometric calibration methods, and independent data analysis routines enables a reduction in systematic uncertainties, in particular those due to optical depth errors. In addition, new hyperfine structure constants are measured for selected levels by least squares fitting line profiles in the FTS spectra. The new V II data are applied to high resolution visible and UV spectra of the Sun and metal-poor star HD 84937 to determine new, more accurate V abundances. Lines covering a range of wavelength and excitation potential are used to search for non-LTE effects. Very good agreement is found between our new solar photospheric V abundance, log ε(V) = 3.95 from 15 V II lines, and the solar-system meteoritic value. In HD 84937, we derive [V/H] = -2.08 from 68 lines, leading to a value of [V/Fe] = 0.24.

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arXiv2014

Fe I Oscillator Strengths for the Gaia-ESO Survey

The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey (GES) is conducting a large-scale study of multi-element chemical abundances of some 100 000 stars in the Milky Way with the ultimate aim of quantifying the formation history and evolution of young, mature and ancient Galactic populations. However, in preparing for the analysis of GES spectra, it has been noted that atomic oscillator strengths of important Fe I lines required to correctly model stellar line intensities are missing from the atomic database. Here, we present new experimental oscillator strengths derived from branching fractions and level lifetimes, for 142 transitions of Fe I between 3526 Å and 10864 Å, of which at least 38 are urgently needed by GES. We also assess the impact of these new data on solar spectral synthesis and demonstrate that for 36 lines that appear unblended in the Sun, Fe abundance measurements yield a small line-by-line scatter (0.08 dex) with a mean abundance of 7.44 dex in good agreement with recent publications.

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arXiv2009

Improved Laboratory Transition Probabilities for Ce II, Application to the Cerium Abundances of the Sun and Five r-process Rich, Metal-Poor Stars, and Rare Earth Lab Data

Recent radiative lifetime measurements accurate to +/- 5% using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) on 43 even-parity and 15 odd-parity levels of Ce II have been combined with new branching fractions measured using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) to determine transition probabilities for 921 lines of Ce II. This improved laboratory data set has been used to determine a new solar photospheric Ce abundance, log epsilon = 1.61 +/- 0.01 (sigma = 0.06 from 45 lines), a value in excellent agreement with the recommended meteoritic abundance, log epsilon = 1.61 +/- 0.02. Revised Ce abundances have also been derived for the r-process-rich metal-poor giant stars BD+17 3248, CS 22892-052, CS 31082-001, HD 115444 and HD 221170. Between 26 and 40 lines were used for determining the Ce abundance in these five stars, yielding a small statistical uncertainty of 0.01 dex similar to the Solar result. The relative abundances in the metal-poor stars of Ce and Eu, a nearly pure r-process element in the Sun, matches r-process only model predictions for Solar System material. This consistent match with small scatter over a wide range of stellar metallicities lends support to these predictions of elemental fractions. A companion paper includes an interpretation of these new precision abundance results for Ce as well as new abundance results and interpretations for Pr, Dy and Tm.

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arXiv2008

Improved Laboratory Transition Probabilities for Er II and Applications to the Erbium Abundances of the Sun and Five r-Process Rich, Metal-Poor Stars

Recent radiative lifetime measurements accurate to +/- 5% (Stockett et al. 2007, J. Phys. B 40, 4529) using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) on 8 even-parity and 62 odd-parity levels of Er II have been combined with new branching fractions measured using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) to determine transition probabilities for 418 lines of Er II. This work moves Er II onto the growing list of rare earth spectra with extensive and accurate modern transition probability measurements using LIF plus FTS data. This improved laboratory data set has been used to determine a new solar photospheric Er abundance, log epsilon = 0.96 +/- 0.03 (sigma = 0.06 from 8 lines), a value in excellent agreement with the recommended meteoric abundance, log epsilon = 0.95 +/- 0.03. Revised Er abundances have also been derived for the r-process-rich metal-poor giant stars CS 22892-052, BD+17 3248, HD 221170, HD 115444, and CS 31082-001. For these five stars the average Er/Eu abundance ratio, = 0.42, is in very good agreement with the solar-system r-process ratio. This study has further strengthened the finding that r-process nucleosynthesis in the early Galaxy which enriched these metal-poor stars yielded a very similar pattern to the r-process which enriched later stars including the Sun.

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arXiv2006

Hf Transition Probabilities and Abundances

Radiative lifetimes from laser-induced fluorescence measurements, accurate to about +/- 5 percent, are reported for 41 odd-parity levels of Hf II. The lifetimes are combined with branching fractions measured using Fourier transform spectrometry to determine transition probabilities for 150 lines of Hf II. Approximately half of these new transition probabilities overlap with recent independent measurements using a similar approach. The two sets of measurements are found to be in good agreement for measurements in common. Our new laboratory data are applied to refine the hafnium photospheric solar abundance and to determine hafnium abundances in 10 metal-poor giant stars with enhanced r-process abundances. For the Sun we derive log epsilon (Hf) = 0.88 +/- 0.08 from four lines; the uncertainty is dominated by the weakness of the lines and their blending by other spectral features. Within the uncertainties of our analysis, the r-process-rich stars possess constant Hf/La and Hf/Eu abundance ratios, log epsilon (Hf/La) = -0.13 +/- 0.02 (sigma = 0.06) and log epsilon (Hf/Eu) = +0.04 +/- 0.02 (sigma = 0.06). The observed average stellar abundance ratio of Hf/Eu and La/Eu is larger than previous estimates of the solar system r-process-only value, suggesting a somewhat larger contribution from the r-process to the production of Hf and La. The newly determined Hf values could be employed as part of the chronometer pair, Th/Hf, to determine radioactive stellar ages.

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arXiv2006

r-Process Enhanced Halo Stars

Abundance observations indicate the presence of rapid-neutron capture (i.e., r-process) elements in old Galactic halo and globular cluster stars. These observations provide insight into the nature of the earliest generations of stars in the Galaxy -- the progenitors of the halo stars -- responsible for neutron-capture synthesis of the heavy elements. The large star-to-star scatter observed in the abundances of neutron-capture element/iron ratios at low metallicities -- which diminishes with increasing metallicity or [Fe/H] -- suggests the formation of these heavy elements (presumably from certain types of supernovae) was rare in the early Galaxy. The stellar abundances also indicate a change from the r-process to the slow neutron capture (i.e., s-) process at higher metallicities in the Galaxy and provide insight into Galactic chemical evolution. Finally, the detection of thorium and uranium in halo and globular cluster stars offers an independent age-dating technique that can put lower limits on the age of the Galaxy, and hence the Universe.

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arXiv2006

Gd Transition Probabilities and Abundances

Radiative lifetimes, accurate to +/- 5%, have been measured for 49 even-parity and 14 odd-parity levels of Gd II using laser-induced fluorescence. The lifetimes are combined with branching fractions measured using Fourier transform spectrometry to determine transition probabilities for 611 lines of Gd II. This work is the largest-scale laboratory study to date of Gd II transition probabilities and the first using a high performance Fourier transform spectrometer. This improved data set has been used to determine a new solar photospheric Gd abundance, log epsilon = 1.11 +/- 0.03. Revised Gd abundances have also been derived for the r-process-rich metal-poor giant stars CS 22892-052, BD+17 3248, and HD 115444. The resulting Gd/Eu abundance ratios are in very good agreement with the solar-system r-process ratio. We have employed the increasingly accurate stellar abundance determinations, resulting in large part from the more precise laboratory atomic data, to predict directly the Solar System r-process elemental abundances for Gd, Sm, Ho and Nd. Our analysis of the stellar data suggests slightly higher recommended values for the r-process contribution and total Solar System values, consistent with the photospheric determinations, for the elements for Gd, Sm, and Ho.

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arXiv2006

Nucleosynthesis: Stellar and Solar Abundances and Atomic Data

Abundance observations indicate the presence of often surprisingly large amounts of neutron capture (i.e., s- and r-process) elements in old Galactic halo and globular cluster stars. These observations provide insight into the nature of the earliest generations of stars in the Galaxy -- the progenitors of the halo stars -- responsible for neutron-capture synthesis. Comparisons of abundance trends can be used to understand the chemical evolution of the Galaxy and the nature of heavy element nucleosynthesis. In addition age determinations, based upon long-lived radioactive nuclei abundances, can now be obtained. These stellar abundance determinations depend critically upon atomic data. Improved laboratory transition probabilities have been recently obtained for a number of elements. These new gf values have been used to greatly refine the abundances of neutron-capture elemental abundances in the solar photosphere and in very metal-poor Galactic halo stars. The newly determined stellar abundances are surprisingly consistent with a (relative) Solar System r-process pattern, and are also consistent with abundance predictions expected from such neutron-capture nucleosynthesis.

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arXiv2005

Sm Transition Probabilities and Abundances

Radiative lifetimes, accurate to +/- 5%, have been measured for 212 odd-parity levels of Sm II using laser-induced fluorescence. The lifetimes are combined with branching fractions measured using Fourier-transform spectrometry to determine transition probabilities for more than 900 lines of Sm II. This work is the largest-scale laboratory study to date of Sm II transition probabilities using modern methods. This improved data set has been used to determine a new solar photospheric Sm abundance, log epsilon = 1.00 +/- 0.03, from 26 lines. The spectra of three very metal-poor, neutron-capture-rich stars also have been analyzed, employing between 55 and 72 Sm II lines per star. The abundance ratios of Sm relative to other rare earth elements in these stars are in agreement, and are consistent with ratios expected from rapid neutron-capture nucleosynthesis (the r-process).

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