A Molecular Beam Study of the (0,0) A2\Pi <- X2\Sigma+ Band of CaF Isotopologues

TL;DR

This paper reports high-resolution laser spectroscopy measurements of calcium fluoride isotopologues, providing new spectroscopic constants and demonstrating the potential for optical isotope analysis of calcium.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed spectroscopic parameters for less-abundant CaF isotopologues using laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.

Findings

Spectroscopic constants for $^{42}$CaF and $^{44}$CaF were determined.

Hyperfine parameters for the electronic states were measured.

Isotope ratios were estimated, showing potential for isotope analysis.

Abstract

This study presents an experimental determination of spectroscopic parameters for the less-abundant isotopologues $^{42}$CaF and $^{44}$CaF, alongside $^{40}$CaF, using high-resolution laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy in a skimmed free jet expansion. We recorded spectra near the natural linewidth limit and derived spectroscopic constants for both the $X^2\Sigma^+$ and $A^2\Pi$ electronic states, including the fine and $^{19}$F magnetic hyperfine parameters. We also estimated the isotope amount ratio $r(^{44}\mathrm{Ca}/^{40}\mathrm{Ca})$, demonstrating the potential use of optical spectroscopy for calcium isotope analysis.