Isotopically resolved calibration of the 285-nm MgI resonance line for comparison with quasar absorptions

Abstract

We have performed high-precision spectroscopy on the 3s21S →3s3p 1P first resonance line of MgI at 285 nm. This measurement is motivated by the recent studies comparing observed quasar absorption lines with laboratory measurements in the search for a possible variation of the fine structure constant α. The Mg transition is excited using the up-converted radiation of an injection-seeded Ti: sapphire pulsed laser system, while the frequency of the continuous wave seed light is measured using a femtosecond frequency comb laser. The line positions of the isotopes are fully resolved and have accuracies better than 8 × 10-9. Using terrestrial abundances for the Mg isotopes 24Mg: 25Mg: 26Mg of 78.99:10.00: 11.01, we determine the composite line wavenumber to be 35 051.2808(2) cm-1, which can be compared to the astronomical observations where the isotopic shifts are unresolved. © 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2006 RAS.