Measurement of the first ionization potential of astatine by laser ionization spectroscopy

S. Rothe (), A. N. Andreyev, S. Antalic, A. Borschevsky, L. Capponi, T. E. Cocolios, H. De Witte, E. Eliav, D. V. Fedorov, V. N. Fedosseev, D. A. Fink, S. Fritzsche, L. Ghys, M. Huyse, N. Imai, U. Kaldor, Yuri Kudryavtsev, U. Köster, J. F. W. Lane, J. Lassen, V. Liberati, K. M. Lynch, B. A. Marsh, K. Nishio, D. Pauwels, V. Pershina, L. Popescu, T. J. Procter, D. Radulov, S. Raeder, M. M. Rajabali, E. Rapisarda, R. E. Rossel, K. Sandhu, M. D. Seliverstov, A. M. Sjödin, P. Van den Bergh, P. Van Duppen, M. Venhart, Y. Wakabayashi and K. D. A. Wendt
Additional contact information
S. Rothe: CERN
A. N. Andreyev: University of York
S. Antalic: Comenius University
A. Borschevsky: Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, The New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University Auckland, Private Bag 102904
L. Capponi: University of the West of Scotland, School of Engineering
T. E. Cocolios: CERN
H. De Witte: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
E. Eliav: School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University
D. V. Fedorov: PNPI NRC KI, Orlova Roscha
V. N. Fedosseev: CERN
D. A. Fink: CERN
S. Fritzsche: GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstraße 1
L. Ghys: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
M. Huyse: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
N. Imai: CERN
U. Kaldor: School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University
Yuri Kudryavtsev: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
U. Köster: Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), 6 rue Jules Horowitz
J. F. W. Lane: University of the West of Scotland, School of Engineering
J. Lassen: TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall
V. Liberati: University of the West of Scotland, School of Engineering
K. M. Lynch: CERN
B. A. Marsh: CERN
K. Nishio: Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
D. Pauwels: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK·CEN, Boeretang 200
V. Pershina: GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstraße 1
L. Popescu: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK·CEN, Boeretang 200
T. J. Procter: University of Manchester, School of Physics and Astronomy
D. Radulov: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
S. Raeder: Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
M. M. Rajabali: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
E. Rapisarda: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
R. E. Rossel: Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
K. Sandhu: University of the West of Scotland, School of Engineering
M. D. Seliverstov: CERN
A. M. Sjödin: CERN
P. Van den Bergh: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
P. Van Duppen: IKS KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D
M. Venhart: Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences (IP SASc), Dúbravskácesta 9
Y. Wakabayashi: Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
K. D. A. Wendt: Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The radioactive element astatine exists only in trace amounts in nature. Its properties can therefore only be explored by study of the minute quantities of artificially produced isotopes or by performing theoretical calculations. One of the most important properties influencing the chemical behaviour is the energy required to remove one electron from the valence shell, referred to as the ionization potential. Here we use laser spectroscopy to probe the optical spectrum of astatine near the ionization threshold. The observed series of Rydberg states enabled the first determination of the ionization potential of the astatine atom, 9.31751(8) eV. New ab initio calculations are performed to support the experimental result. The measured value serves as a benchmark for quantum chemistry calculations of the properties of astatine as well as for the theoretical prediction of the ionization potential of superheavy element 117, the heaviest homologue of astatine.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2819

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