9450936 Compaan The University of Toledo Department of Physics and Astronomy proposes to enhance its advanced undergraduate Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratory (Physics 481) with the addition of a structured sequence of experiments in high resolution spectroscopy. This sequence will build on existing experiments, which use grating spectrometers and Fabry-Perot interferometers, to add several related experiments in high resolution atomic and molecular spectroscopy. The new laboratory experiences will include 1) Raman scattering from diatomic molecules, 2) velocity measurements on solar spectra using the UT heliostat, an echelle spectrometer, and a CCD detector, 3) Doppler-free tunable diode laser saturation spectroscopy of rubidium vapor, 4) recoilless gamma ray absorption studies via the Mossbauer effect, and 5) radiative lifetime measurements with a pulsed diode laser. This sequence will provide the students with laboratory experiences utilizing modern spectroscopy equipment, data acquisition, and data analysis while exposing them to classic experiments which all relate to linewidth broadening in electromagnetic radiation processes. Among other measurements the students will determine interatomic separations in O2, N2, and CO2, the nuclear spin statistics and rotational temperatures of these molecules, the rotational velocity of the sun, Gaussian and Lorentzian broadening in gases, mode structures of laser emission, recoil-free radiation processes with high energy photons, and uncertainty principle limits to radiative linewidths.
