Isotope shifts and hyperfine structure of erbium, dysprosium, and gadolinium by atomic-beam diode-laser spectroscopy

A commercial diode laser system, without external frequency stabilization, has been used to study the isotope shifts and hyperfine structure in a near infrared transition of erbium, dysprosium and gadolinium. Specific mass shifts and relative values for the change in the radial nuclear charge parameters of the isotopes were obtained for erbium and dysprosium that compare well with literature values. The hyperfine structure constants measured for erbium fell within the range predicted from the results of other workers. The isotope shifts in the gadolinium transition investigated were too small for the spectrum to be resolved. (orig.)