National Physical Laboratory

About: National Physical Laboratory is a facility organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Dielectric & Thin film. The organization has 7615 authors who have published 13327 publications receiving 319381 citations.

Frequency measurements on optically narrowed Rb-stabilised laser diodes at 780 nm and 795 nm

Abstract: Laser diodes, optically narrowed using the technique of resonant optical feedback, have been frequency stabilised to hyperfine transitions of the two Rb D lines at 780 nm and 795 nm. The best frequency stability of the beat between two similar lasers was 1.5 kHz (4 parts in 1012 of the optical frequency) observed for an averaging time of 10 s. A frequency reproducibility of 44 kHz (one standard deviation) was observed on strong isolated hyperfine components, and possible causes of frequency shift were investigated. Values for the Rb hyperfine intervals were obtained, leading to an improved determination of the excited state hyperfine constants of 85Rb and 87Rb, and the isotope shift. The absolute frequencies of the hyperfine transitions of the two D lines were determined interferometrically by comparison with an 127I2-stabilised He-Ne laser at 633 nm. Measurements were made on component c′ at 795 nm and the d/f level crossing at 780 nm. The frequencies were found to be 377106271.6 MHz and 384227981.9 MHz respectively under the chosen conditions, with an uncertainty of ±0.4 MHz, limited by knowledge of the reference frequency. These results represent the most accurate and complete characterisation to date of laser diodes stabilised to Doppler-free Rb spectra.

β-Decay Half-Lives of 110 Neutron-Rich Nuclei across the N ¼ 82 Shell Gap: Implications for the Mechanism and Universality of the Astrophysical r Process

Abstract: The $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay half-lives of 110 neutron-rich isotopes of the elements from $_{37}\mathrm{Rb}$ to $_{50}\mathrm{Sn}$ were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The 40 new half-lives follow robust systematics and highlight the persistence of shell effects. The new data have direct implications for $r$-process calculations and reinforce the notion that the second ($A\ensuremath{\approx}130$) and the rare-earth-element ($A\ensuremath{\approx}160$) abundance peaks may result from the freeze-out of an $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})\ensuremath{\rightleftarrows}(\ensuremath{\gamma},n)$ equilibrium. In such an equilibrium, the new half-lives are important factors determining the abundance of rare-earth elements, and allow for a more reliable discussion of the $r$ process universality. It is anticipated that universality may not extend to the elements Sn, Sb, I, and Cs, making the detection of these elements in metal-poor stars of the utmost importance to determine the exact conditions of individual $r$-process events.