Absolute frequency and isotope shift measurements of mercury S-P transition.

We report the measurement of the absolute frequencies of the 6s S-6s6p P transition (253.7 nm) and the relevant isotope shifts in five mercury isotopes  Hg,  Hg,  Hg,  Hg, and  Hg. The Doppler-free saturated absorption measurements were performed in an atomic vapour cell at room temperature with a four-harmonic generated (FHG) continuous-wave (cw) laser digitally locked to the atomic transition.

Dual Hg-Rb magneto-optical trap.

We present a two-species laser cooling apparatus capable of simultaneously collecting Rb and Hg atomic gases into a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The atomic sources, laser system, and vacuum set-up are described. While there is a loss of Rb atoms in the MOT due to photoionization by the Hg cooling laser, we show that it does not prevent simultaneous trapping of Rb and Hg.