High resolution measurements of the hyperfine structure of atomic Lanthanum for energetically low lying levels of odd parity

Doppler-reduced saturation absorption spectroscopy is applied to study the hyperfine structure of excited levels of Lanthanum. 16 transitions in the near infrared wavelength range are investigated. Precise values for the magnetic dipole hyperfine structure constants A as well as for the electric quadrupole hyperfine structure constants B of the isotope La-139 are determined for 14 levels of odd parity and nine levels of even parity. For levels of even parity a good agreement is found with values from previous Measurements using sub-Doppler methods. For levels of odd parity previously determined values are improved and for two levels new Values of the hyperfine structure constants are reported. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.