Kutsenko O. Laser-microwave spectroscopy of Rydberg states of singlet Mg I

The research object: neutral magnesium atoms in a thermal atomic beam. The purpose of the research: to determine quantum defect constants of Mg I with accuracy that allows one to calculate frequencies of Rydberg-Rydberg transition in Mg atom with sub-MHz accuracy. Research methods: laser-microwave spectroscopy in combination with pulse-field ionization technique; numerical calculations, methods of nonlinear optimization and mathematical statistics. New theoretical and practical results: a laser-microwave spectrometer for investigation of microwave spectrum of Rydberg atoms was created; for the first time frequencies of more than 70 transitions between Mg I Rydberg singlet states were measured; quantum defect constants were determined with accuracy that is two or three orders of magnitude better than previos available; value of the first ionization potential of Mg I was specified. Application field: radioastronomy, atomic physics, quantum systems.