Abstract
In-source resonant ionization laser spectroscopy of the even- polonium isotopes has been performed using the to () transition in the polonium atom (Po-I) at the CERN ISOLDE facility. The comparison of the measured isotope shifts in with a previous data set allows us to test for the first time recent large-scale atomic calculations that are essential to extract the changes in the mean-square charge radius of the atomic nucleus. When going to lighter masses, a surprisingly large and early departure from sphericity is observed, which is only partly reproduced by beyond mean field calculations.
- Received 11 October 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.052503
© 2011 American Physical Society