Spectroscopy of the $^{\mathrm{3}}$F$_{\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{o}}$ state of Radium
ORAL
Abstract
Electric dipole moment (EDM) searches on diamagnetic atoms are sensitive methods to detect CP-violation in the nucleus. $^{\mathrm{225}}$Ra, due to its octupole deformation, is a good candidate for searches for EDMs in hadrons. We cool and trap $^{\mathrm{225}}$Ra to use in EDM measurements, the sensitivity of which can be improved by capturing larger numbers of atoms. We plan to enhance our atom number by implementing a blue Zeeman slower via the $^{\mathrm{1}}$S$_{\mathrm{0}}\to ^{\mathrm{1}}$P$_{\mathrm{1}}$ transition at 483 nm, which may increase the capture efficiency of our MOT by two orders of magnitude. However, due to the substantial branching ratio from $^{\mathrm{1}}$P$_{\mathrm{1}}$ into $^{\mathrm{3}}$D$_{\mathrm{J}}$ levels, several repump lasers are needed to close the transition. Toward this goal, we present spectroscopic data of the $^{\mathrm{3}}$F$_{\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{o}}$ state of $^{\mathrm{226}}$Ra, which we plan to use for repumping the blue Zeeman slower. Using a novel technique, we measured the lifetime of the $^{\mathrm{3}}$F$_{\mathrm{2}}^{\mathrm{o}}$ state and the oscillator strengths of the different transitions out of the state, allowing us to determine the branching ratios out of the state.
*This work is supported by the U.S. DOE, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under contract DE - AC02 - 06CH11357 and the Michigan State University.
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