Measurements of the Hyperfine Structure of Atomic Energy Levels in Co II

TL;DR

This paper reports precise measurements of hyperfine structure constants in Co II, significantly expanding the dataset and improving the accuracy of atomic data crucial for astronomical spectroscopy.

Contribution

The study provides the largest set of hyperfine constants for Co II to date, enhancing the reliability of spectroscopic analyses in astronomy.

Findings

Measured 292 hyperfine A constants for Co II levels.

Expanded known A values for Co II levels tenfold.

Improved accuracy of hyperfine data for astronomical applications.

Abstract

Analysis of hyperfine structure constants of singly ionised cobalt (Co II) were performed on cobalt spectra measured by Fourier transform spectrometers in the region $3000-63000$ cm$^{-1}$ ($3333-159$ nm). Fits to over $700$ spectral lines led to measurements of $292$ magnetic dipole hyperfine interaction $A$ constants, with values between $-32.5$ mK and $59.5$ mK ($1$ mK $=0.001$ cm$^{-1}$). Uncertainties of $255$ A constants were between $\pm0.4$ mK and $\pm3.0$ mK, the remaining $37$ ranged up to $\pm7$ mK. The electric quadrupole hyperfine interaction $B$ constant could be estimated for only $1$ energy level. The number of Co II levels with known $A$ values has now increased tenfold, improving and enabling the wider, more reliable and accurate application of Co II in astronomical chemical abundance analyses.