Hyperfine resolved optical spectroscopy of the A2 ← X2+ transition in MgF
Abstract
We report on hyperfine-resolved laser spectroscopy of the A2 ← X2+ transition of MgF, relevant for laser cooling. We recorded 25 rotational transitions with an absolute accuracy of better than 20 MHz, assigned 56 hyperfine lines and determined precise rotational, fine and hyperfine structure parameters for the A2 state. The radiative lifetime of the A2 state was determined to be 7.2(3) ns, in good agreement with ab initio calculations. The transition isotope shift between bosonic isotopologues of the molecule is recorded and compared to predicted values within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. We measured the Stark effect of selected rotational lines of the A2 ← X2+ transition by applying electric fields of up to 10.6 kV cm-1 and determined the permanent electric dipole moments of 24MgF in its ground X2+ and first excited A2 states to be μX=2.88(20) D and μA=3.20(22) D, respectively. Based on these measurements, we caution for potential losses from the optical cycling transition, due to electric field induced parity mixing in the excited state. In order to scatter 104 photons, the electric field must be controlled to below 1 V cm-1.
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