Fourier-Transform VUV Spectroscopy of ^14,15N and ^12,13C

Abstract

Accurate Fourier-transform spectroscopic absorption measurements of vacuum ultraviolet transitions in atomic nitrogen and carbon were performed at the Soleil synchrotron. For ${}^{14}$N, transitions from the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ ground state and from the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^2$P and ${}^2$D metastable states were determined in the 95–124 nm range at an accuracy of $0.025{\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$. The combination of these results with data from previous precision laser experiments in the vacuum ultraviolet range reveals an overall and consistent offset of −0.04 cm${}^{-1}$ from values reported in the NIST database. The splittings of the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ – $2s2p^4{}^4$P${}_J$ transitions are well-resolved for ${}^{14}$N and ${}^{15}$N and the isotope shifts determined. While excitation of a $2p$ valence electron yields very small isotope shifts, excitation of a $2s$ core electron results in large isotope shifts, in agreement with theoretical predictions. For carbon, six transitions from the ground $2s^{2}2p^2{}^3$P${}_J$ and $2s^{2}2p3s{}^3$P${}_J$ excited states at 165 nm are measured for both ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{13}$C isotopes.

1. Introduction

The determination of level energies in first row atoms critically relies on accurate spectroscopic measurements in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region below the atmospheric absorption cutoff. The present study applies a unique Fourier-transform spectroscopic instrument in combination with synchrotron radiation to access this wavelength range at high resolution and accuracy for improving the atomic level structures of N and C atoms, including isotopic effects.

The currently available level energies and line classifications for the N atom, compiled in the comprehensive NIST database [1], mostly originate from the work of Eriksson and coworkers from the late 1950s in combination with the work by Kaufman and Ward [2]. Eriksson measured N I (neutral nitrogen) transitions between 113.4–174.5 nm at about 0.1 cm${}^{-1}$ accuracy and constructed the atomic level structure, also including information on transitions between excited states in the visible and IR region [3,4]. Kaufman and Ward measured the $2p^3$ ${}^2$D${}_J$ – $3s$ ${}^2$P${}_J$ and $2p^3$ ${}^2$P${}_J$ – $3s$ ${}^2$P${}_J$ transitions to extend the knowledge of the level structure of the ground configuration at better than 0.04 cm${}^{-1}$ accuracy [2], also including the forbidden transition ${}^4$S${}_{1/2}$ – ${}^2$P${}_J$ measured by Eriksson. Further analyses were performed by Eriksson [5,6], and a compilation was made by Moore [7], now used as a primary reference in the NIST database. Eriksson published an extensive analysis with newly determined energy levels at an uncertainty of 0.003 cm${}^{-1}$ [8]. More recently, Salumbides et al. [9] measured 12 transitions from the ground state at around 96 nm using VUV precision laser spectroscopy with 0.005 cm${}^{-1}$ uncertainty, thus providing an accurate connection between the ground and excited states.

The energy level structure and the spectral data for the neutral carbon atom were recently reviewed by Haris and Kramida [10]. Their report includes an accurate summary of the VUV transitions in C I (carbon atoms) [10]. Among the body of reported studies, the VUV measurements by Kaufman and Ward [11] present the highest accuracy, at 0.025–0.047 cm${}^{-1}$, in the range of 145–193 nm. The C I level energy optimization also includes accurate unpublished UV Fourier-transform data at about 0.004 cm${}^{-1}$ accuracy from Griesmann and Kling reported in [10]. Inclusion of these lines allowed for the determination of some key excited level energies, accurate to 0.0013 cm${}^{-1}$.

Atomic isotope shifts (ISs) have been studied for a variety of transitions in ${}^{12,13}$C. Yamamoto et al. [12] and Klein et al. [13] performed high precision IS measurements of the far-infrared lines of the ${}^3$P ground term. For transitions between electronic states, anomalous, negative IS have been measured, e.g., for the $2p^2$${}^1$S${}_0$ – $3s$${}^1$P${}_1$ transition [14,15], while the transition between ground ${}^3$P${}_2$ and core-excited state $2s2p^3$${}^5$S${}_2$ showed a positive IS, with the heavier isotope blue-shifted [16]. Ground state excitation to the autoionizing $2s2p^3$${}^3$S${}_1$ state also yielded a positive IS [17], while on the other hand, excitation to $2s2p^3$${}^3$D${}_J$ and $3s$${}^3$P${}_J$, as well as the ${}^1$D${}_2$ – $3s$${}^1$P${}_1$ transition exhibit an IS with the opposite sign [18]. Berengut et al. [19] performed theoretical studies on isotopic shifts of C I, explaining significant differences in IS for various transitions.

The IS of the nitrogen atom was investigated as well, but mainly in excitation between excited states. Holmes studied the ${}^{14,15}$N IS of lines around 800 nm by classical means, finding a −0.4 to −0.6 cm${}^{-1}$ IS for the $3s$${}^4$P – $3p$${}^4$L quartet transitions and about 0.07 cm${}^{-1}$ for $3s$${}^2$P – $3p$${}^2$P doublet transitions [15,20]. Later, a number of Doppler-free laser saturation studies were performed on the $3s$${}^4$P – $3p$${}^4$P,${}^4$D transitions [21,22]. A strong J-dependence of the specific mass shift (SMS) effect was found to originate from the lower $3s$${}^4$P state [23]. The only measurement of IS in VUV transitions from the $2p^3$${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ ground state is that of Salumbides et al. [9], probing $4s$${}^4$P, $3d$${}^2$F, $3d$${}^4$P, $3d$${}^4$D, and $3d$${}^2$D states, where no significant J-dependent SMS was observed.

In the present study, lines of N I in the range of 95–124 nm and C I at 165 nm are investigated by Fourier-transform synchrotron absorption spectroscopy with accurate determination of isotopic shifts. Some 27 lines of N I and six lines of the $2p^2$${}^3$P${}_J$ – $3s$${}^3$P${}_J$ multiplet of C I are measured at an absolute accuracy of 0.025 cm${}^{-1}$.

2. Experimental

The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) Fourier-transform (FT) spectroscopic instrument at the DESIRS (Dichroïsme Et Spectroscopie par Interaction avec le Rayonnement Synchrotron) beamline of the Soleil Synchrotron facility has been described in detail previously [24,25]. The main originality of the instrument lies in the use of wave-front division interferometry for generating an interferogram avoiding transmission optical materials for beam overlap. As is common in non-dispersive FT spectroscopy, the absorbing gas cell is located between the source and the VUV interferometer, allowing for a geometry where the absorption may occur at a far distance from the FT analyzing instrument.

The energy calibration of the FT spectrometer is intrinsically related to the VUV optical path difference, which is measured via the interferometric detection of the fringes of a HeNe laser probing the back surface of the moving reflector [24]. The FT spectroscopy energy scale is strictly linear and, in principle, requires a single reference if precise absolute calibration is needed. Such calibration of the spectra is performed by comparing with an absorption line of Kr I present in most spectra, for which an accurate value exists in the literature at 85,846.7055 (2) cm${}^{-1}$ [26]. This value for a natural sample of krypton is in agreement with isotope-specific calibrations by high resolution laser measurements [27]. This leads to an estimated uncertainty of 0.025 cm${}^{-1}$ for the N I and C I resonances. The widths of observed lines range from 0.28 to 0.40 cm${}^{-1}$ (FWHM).

In a variety of previous experiments, the FT instrument was applied to perform spectroscopy of quasi-static gas molecules flowing from a capillary-shaped windowless gas cell, such as for nitrogen molecules [28]. Recently, a study was performed probing Rydberg states of O${}_2$ molecules in excitation from metastable states down to 120 nm, produced in a DC-discharge cell equipped with UV-transmissive windows [29]. In the present study, spectroscopy is performed on atoms that were produced via two entirely different methods.

The measurements on atomic nitrogen were carried out by releasing N${}_2$ gas into a windowless gas filter, located upstream on the DESIRS beam line close to the undulator. This filter is usually filled with noble gas for the purpose of suppressing the high energy harmonics produced in the undulator [30]. Neitherthe gas density, nor the absorbing column length are known, but the gas inlet can be controlled to produce the desired signal strength, where a strong limitation is set by the maximum pressure allowed before the safety shutters on the beam line close. The gas filter can be monitored through a viewing window where a radiation emitting plasma can be observed of blue-purple color at the location where the synchrotron pencil beam traverses (see Figure 1). At this location, the synchrotron beam, including its harmonics produced in the undulator, causes photo-dissociation and photo-ionization in a collisional environment, and hence a plasma, where N atoms are produced in the ground state, as well as in the metastable states. The absorption spectra of this nitrogen plasma are measured by the FT instrument some 17 m further downstream. During the measurements, gas samples of ${}^{14}$N${}_2$, ${}^{14}$N${}^{15}$N, and ${}^{15}$N${}_2$ were used to measure and disentangle the isotopic lines of N I.

For the spectroscopy of atomic carbon, a DC discharge cell is used, which is located further downstream just in front (by 0.5 m) of the FT instrument inside the conventional gas sample chamber of the FT spectroscopy branch [25]. The DC-discharge is similar to the one used by Western et al. [29], although the cell is windowless in this case in order to reach the VUV spectral range. A flow of CO${}_2$ gas is released at the inlet port and pumped at the rear end. A plasma is generated between the cathodes at a voltage difference of 1000 V with a stabilized discharge current of 20 mA. The discharge is further stabilized by optimizing the pressure and by mixing in of He carrier gas, within the limits allowed by the differential pumping system of the chamber [25]. Spectra are recorded for ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{13}$C by using ${}^{12}$CO${}_2$ and enriched ${}^{13}$CO${}_2$ gas.

3. Results and Interpretation

3.1. Nitrogen I

Two different sets of lines are measured for N I, lines in excitation from the ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ ground state and lines excited from ${}^2$D${}_J$ metastable states produced in the plasma. Results will be discussed separately.

3.1.1. Initial State: Ground $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4$S${}_{3/2}$

Recorded absorption spectra from the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ ground state to the $3s$${}^4$P${}_J$ levels and the $2s2p^4$ ${}^4$P${}_J$ core excited levels were measured, the latter shown in Figure 2. Spectra were recorded from samples of ${}^{14}$N${}_2$, ${}^{14}$N${}^{15}$N, and ${}^{15}$N${}_2$, thus allowing unraveling the isotopic structure.

Table 1. Measured transition frequencies for N I and isotopic shifts for lines excited from the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ ground state. Units in cm${}^{-1}$ with uncertainties indicated in parentheses. In the fourth column, the derived transition frequencies of [2] are listed for comparison. For the transitions above 100,000 cm${}^{-1}$, a comparison is made with results of the precision VUV laser study [9]. The isotopic shift (${}^{15}$N – ${}^{14}$N), ${\Delta }_{15-14}$, is given in the last column. In cases where no significant isotope shift is observed, the value in parentheses represents an upper limit.

Excited State	J	${}^{14}$N	Refs. [2,9]	${\mathsf{\Delta }}_{15-14}$
	1/2	83,284.021 (25)	83,284.085 (42)	0.01 (4)
$3s$${}^4$P	3/2	83,317.784 (25)	83,317.843 (42)	0.00 (4)
	5/2	83,364.570 (25)	83,364.637 (42)	0.01 (4)
	5/2	88,107.226 (25)	88,107.272 (39)	0.64 (1)
$2s2p^4$${}^4$P	3/2	88,151.130 (25)	88,151.185 (39)	0.63 (1)
	1/2	88,170.525 (25)	88,170.585 (39)	0.63 (1)
	5/2	104,825.080 (25)	104,825.0699 (50)	0.00 (4)
$3d$${}^4$P	3/2	104,859.698 (25)	104,859.6952 (50)	0.00 (4)
	1/2	104,886.012 (25)	104,886.0687 (50)	0.02 (4)
$3d$${}^2$F	5/2	104,810.335 (25)	104,810.3324 (50)	0.01 (4)

lists the transition frequencies as deduced from the spectra. For the core excited states, a clear isotopic splitting was observed, the results of which are included in the table. The same lines of ${}^{14}$N I were well studied by Kaufman and Ward [2] with uncertainties of 0.06 to 0.1 cm${}^{-1}$. When comparing the present dataset with that of [2], an average systematic offset of −0.05 cm${}^{-1}$ was found, corresponding to 1.5 $\sigma$ of combined uncertainties.

The agreement between the present FT data with the previous VUV laser data in the range above 104,000 cm${}^{-1}$ [9], except for the line exciting the ${}^4$P${}_{1/2}$ level (off by $2\sigma$), is considered as a verification of the calibration accuracy of the present experiment.

The ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ – $3s$${}^4$P${}_J$ transition frequencies show no significant difference in measurement using pure ${}^{14}$N${}_2$ and ${}^{15}$N${}_2$, while from measurements with ${}^{14}$N${}^{15}$N, the spectra show insignificant changes in linewidth. The uncertainty of FWHM is about 0.021 cm${}^{-1}$, which is dominated by the statistics and the deconvolution of the FT sinc shape of the apparatus function observed in the FT spectrum. From this, it is estimated that the ${}^{15}$N – ${}^{14}$N (IS) of the ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ – $3s$${}^4$P${}_J$ transitions is less than 0.04 cm${}^{-1}$. The transitions exciting $3d$ states also do not display an isotope shift. This is found to be in agreement with the previous, more accurate, VUV laser experiment where an IS of 0.01 cm${}^{-1}$ was determined [9].

In contrast, the ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ – $2s2p^4$${}^4$P${}_J$ core changing transitions display a distinctive IS, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The spectra of ${}^{14}$N${}^{15}$N show a well-resolved isotopic doublet for each individual fine structure line with nearly equal intensity. The transition frequencies are consistent with those found from pure ${}^{14}$N${}_2$ and ${}^{15}$N${}_2$. The ${}^{15}$N – ${}^{14}$N ISs are determined to be about 0.63(1) cm${}^{-1}$ with an uncertainty determined by line profile fitting in the ${}^{14}$N${}^{15}$N scan.

3.1.2. Initial State: Metastable $2s^{2}2p^3{}^2$D${}_J$

The metastable $2s^{2}2p^3$${}^2$D${}_J$ states lie some 2.5 eV above the ground state ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$, 19,224.464 cm${}^{-1}$ for ${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$ and 19,233.177 cm${}^{-1}$ for ${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ [1]. All transitions excited from these levels are substantially weaker than those excited from the ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ ground state, indicating that the metastable states are less populated. A spectrum of these lines is shown in Figure 3, while

Table 2. Measured transition frequencies for lines excited from ${}^2$D${}_J$ and ${}^2$P${}_J$ metastable states in N I, with uncertainties indicated in parentheses. Again, a comparison is made with results from [2]. All values in cm${}^{-1}$.

Initial State	Excited State	${}^{14}$N	Ref. [2]
	$3s$${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$	80,439.004 (25)	80,438.900 (78)
	$4s$${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$	84,997.212(25)	84,997.174 (79)
	$3d$${}^2$F${}_{7/2}$	85,656.939 (25)	85,656.890 (81)
${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$	$3d$${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$	85,919.307 (25)	85,919.252 (81)
	$5s$${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$	90,879.420 (25)	90,879.406 (83)
	$4d$${}^2$F${}_{7/2}$	91,138.025 (25)	91,138.01 (17) ${}^a$
	$5d$${}^2$F${}_{7/2}$	93,666.807 (25)	93,666.64 (18) ${}^a$
	$3s$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$	80,430.769 (25)	80,430.684 (71)
	$4s$${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$	84,911.672 (25)	84,911.643 (72)
	$3d$${}^2$F${}_{5/2}$	85,577.230(25)	85,577.181 (73)
${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$	$3d$${}^4$P${}_{5/2}$	85,591.960 (25)	85,591.933 (73)
	$3d$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$	85,886.730 (25)	85,886.702 (66)
	$5s$${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$	90,802.570 (25)	90,802.522 (66)
	$4d$${}^2$F${}_{5/2}$	91,053.168 (25)	91,053.04 (17) ${}^a$
	$4d$${}^4$P${}_{5/2}$	91,066.829 (25)	91,066.64 (17) ${}^a$
${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$	(${}^1$S) $3s$${}^2$S${}_{1/2}$	87,439.234 (25)	87,439.252 ${}^b$
${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$		87,439.717 (25)	87,439.638 ${}^b$

${}^a$ Measured frequency presented in [5]. ${}^b$ Calculated frequency from the NIST database.

lists all the observed transitions and their frequencies. Regardless of the small splitting, of about 0.485 cm${}^{-1}$ between $3s$ ${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$ and $3s$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$, the transitions observed at 80,430.79 cm${}^{-1}$ and 80,439.02 cm${}^{-1}$ are unambiguously assigned ${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ – $3s$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ and ${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$ – $3s$${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$, based on intensity. Note that $\Delta J=0$ transitions of ${}^2$D${}_{J^{\prime }}$ – $3s$${}^2$D${}_J$ exhibit Einstein A coefficients 10 times larger than $\Delta J=\pm 1$. Table 2 includes the transition frequencies of observed lines from [2] for comparison. Here, again, a systematic offset is found, now positive and of opposite sign at 0.078 cm${}^{-1}$, again corresponding to 1.5 $\sigma$ of the combined uncertainties. The same systematic offset of −0.07 cm${}^{-1}$ is also found when comparing the results of the VUV laser measurements [9] with those of Kaufman and Ward [2].

Two additional transitions are observed near 87,439 cm${}^{-1}$, which we assign as $2p^3$${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$, ${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$ – (${}^1$S) $3s$${}^2$S${}_{1/2}$. Eriksson first identified a line at 114.3649 (2) nm, or 87,439.42 (15) cm${}^{-1}$ [3]. From the level energies reported in the NIST database, frequencies for these two transitions can be computed, and these predictive results are found to be well in agreement with the present direct measurements (see Table 2). The fine-structure splitting of $2p^3$${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$ – ${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$ is determined to be 0.483 (35) cm${}^{-1}$, which is in fair agreement with the paramagnetic resonance result of 0.4326 (3) cm${}^{-1}$ [31].

The transitions from metastable states show no significant IS from spectra obtained with ${}^{14}$N${}_2$ and ${}^{15}$N${}_2$ gases. The linewidth obtained with ${}^{14}$N${}^{15}$N gas does not show any additional broadening, from which it is concluded that the IS of these lines is smaller than $0.04$ cm${}^{-1}$.

3.2. Carbon I

Figure 4 shows the recording of all six $2p^2$${}^3$P${}_J$ – $3s$${}^3$P${}_J$ transitions for both carbon isotopes obtained from discharges in ${}^{12}$CO${}_2$/He and ${}^{13}$CO${}_2$/He gas mixtures. The spectrum of ${}^{12}$C has several overlapping lines of the A${}^1\Pi$-X${}^1{\Sigma }^{+}$ (2,0) band of ${}^{12}$CO [32]. The A-X(2,0) band of ${}^{13}$C${}^{16}$O is blue-shifted by 100 cm${}^{-1}$, outside the measurement interval displayed. The spectra of ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{13}$C are taken in separate measurements in absence of the Kr I reference line in the scan range.

The absolute calibration is verified by interpolating from the ${}^{12}$CO lines with predicted transition frequencies from Doppler-free two photon spectroscopy results at 0.002 cm${}^{-1}$ accuracy [32,33]. The average difference of the twelve CO lines observed is 0.001 (6) cm${}^{-1}$, which is smaller than the current measurement uncertainty. This procedure again leads to the same accuracy as for the N I lines, at 0.025 cm${}^{-1}$.

Table 3. Measured frequency and isotopic shift (${\Delta }_{13-12}$) of C I ${}^3$P${}_J$ – $3s^3$P${}_J$ transitions, with uncertainties indicated in parentheses. Note that the ${}^{12}$C transition frequencies from [10] are computed values. The uncertainty of isotopic shifts from [18] is estimated by taking measurement uncertainties from ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{13}$C in quadrature. All values are given in cm${}^{-1}$.

	This Work			Ref. [10]		Ref. [18]
Transition	${}^{\mathbf{12}}$C	${}^{\mathbf{13}}$C	${\mathsf{\Delta }}_{\mathbf{13}-\mathbf{12}}$	${}^{\mathbf{12}}$C	${\mathsf{\Delta }}_{\mathbf{13}-\mathbf{12}}$	${}^{\mathbf{12}}$C	${\mathsf{\Delta }}_{\mathbf{13}-\mathbf{12}}$
${}^3$P${}_2-3s^3$P${}_1$	60,309.245 (25)	60,309.141 (25)	−0.104 (35)	60,309.2459 (13)	−0.0919 (28)	60,309.22 (10)	-
${}^3$P${}_1{-}^3$P${}_0$	17.021 (25)	16.919 (25)	−0.102 (35)	17.0319 (14)	−0.0919 (28)	17.02(10)	−0.3 ${}^a$
${}^3$P${}_1{-}^3$P${}_1$	36.234 (25)	36.148 (25)	−0.086 (35)	36.2427 (13)	−0.0917 (28)	36.22(10)	−0.15
${}^3$P${}_2{-}^3$P${}_2$	49.750 (25)	49.653 (25)	−0.097 (35)	49.7568 (13)	−0.0918 (28)	49.73(10)	−0.14
${}^3$P${}_0{-}^3$P${}_1$	52.663 (25)	52.549 (25)	−0.114 (35)	52.6594 (13)	−0.0914 (28)	52.64(10)	−0.14
${}^3$P${}_1{-}^3$P${}_2$	76.750 (25)	76.649 (25)	−0.101 (35)	76.7536 (13)	−0.0916 (28)	76.73 (10)	−0.16

${}^a$ In [18], it was stated that the corresponding ${}^{13}$C transition is strongly blended.

lists the transition frequencies for the six C I lines. The table includes the transition frequencies of ${}^{12}$C and the ${}^{13}$C-${}^{12}$C IS. The latter were presented in [10] at better accuracy, but those results did not stem from direct measurement, but rather from combination differences. The results of Haridass et al., directly measured, but at larger uncertainty [18], are included as well. All the measured frequencies agree with each other within the stated uncertainties. Hence, the predicted line positions of [10] are confirmed by experiment.

The ground and $3s$${}^3$P${}_J$ level energies of ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{13}$C are fitted with the six intercombination lines using the LOPT program [34].

Table 4. Least-squares fitted C I level energies for the ${}^3$P${}_J$ – $3s^3$P${}_J$ multiplet and the comparison with [10]. The predicted transitions between ground ${}^3$P${}_J$ are compared with the high precision measurements in [12,13].

	${}^{12}$C		${}^{13}$C
	This Work	Ref. [10]	This Work	Ref. [10]
$2p^2$${}^3$P${}_0$	0	0	0	0
$2p^2$${}^3$P${}_1$	16.420 (30)	16.4167122 (6)	16.404 (30)	16.4167869 (6)
$2p^2$${}^3$P${}_2$	43.419 (30)	43.4134544 (8)	43.405 (30)	43.4136669 (16)
$3s$${}^3$P${}_0$	60,333.441 (41)	60,333.4484 (14)	60,333.323 (41)	60,333.357 (4)
$3s$${}^3$P${}_1$	60,352.663 (30)	60,352.6594 (13)	60,352.549 (30)	60,352.568 (4)
$3s$${}^3$P${}_2$	60,393.169 (40)	60,393.1703 (13)	60,393.055 (40)	60,393.078 (4)
Transition	This work	Refs. [12,13]	This work	Refs. [12,13]
${}^3$P${}_0$ - ${}^3$P${}_1$	16.420 (30)	16.4167122 (6)	16.404 (30)	16.416787 (1) ${}^a$
${}^3$P${}_1$ - ${}^3$P${}_2$	26.999 (25)	26.9967422 (6)	27.001 (25)	26.996881 (3) ${}^a$

${}^a$ The center of gravity for the ${}^{13}$C hyperfine-resolved transition is reported.

lists the fitted values from this work, and a comparison with [10] is made. The level energies and uncertainties presented are relative to the ground ${}^3$P${}_0$ state. Note that the inclusion of level energies and splittings in the $2p^2$${}^3$P ground state only serves the purpose of comparing with the much more accurate values of [12,13] to verify the accuracy of the present VUV_data. The predicted transition frequencies agree well with high precision measurements of transitions between ground states [12,13], exhibiting less than a 0.012 cm${}^{-1}$ difference. This finding further supports the calibration accuracy in the present study. Haris and Kramida [10] noted a small systematic shift of −0.00006 nm, or 0.022 cm${}^{-1}$, with respect to the ${}^{12}$C values of Kaufman and Ward [11] in the 52,000 to 78,000 cm${}^{-1}$ range of the Griesmann and Kling unpublished FTS (Fourier-Transform Spectroscopic) data. By comparing these values with our measurement, there appears a 0.019 cm${}^{-1}$ average offset, consistent with the claim of [10].

4. Discussion

4.1. Level Energies of ${}^{14}$N I

Three transitions from the metastable $2s^{2}2p^3$${}^2$D${}_J$ state, the transitions ${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ – $3d$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$, ${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$ – $3d$ ${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$, and ${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ – $3d$ ${}^2$F${}_{5/2}$, share their excited state in the high precision VUV laser measurements of [9]. In combination with those laser measurements, the level energies of all states can be fitted using the LOPT program [34].

Table 5. Least-squares fitted N I level energies using the transitions from [9] and the current study. The fitted value is compared with the value of the NIST database. All values are in cm${}^{-1}$.

Level	This Work and Ref. [9]	NIST	Difference
$2p^3$${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$	0	0	-
$2p^3$${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$	19,224.373 (25)	19,224.464	−0.091
$2p^3$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$	19,233.108 (15)	19,233.177	−0.069
$3s$${}^4$P${}_{1/2}$	83,284.021 (25)	83,284.070	−0.049
$3s$${}^4$P${}_{3/2}$	83,317.784 (25)	83,317.830	−0.046
$3s$${}^4$P${}_{5/2}$	83,364.570 (25)	83,364.620	−0.050
$2p^4$${}^4$P${}_{5/2}$	88,107.226 (25)	88,107.260	−0.034
$2p^4$${}^4$P${}_{3/2}$	88,151.130 (25)	88,151.170	−0.004
$2p^4$${}^4$P${}_{1/2}$	88,170.525 (25)	88,170.570	−0.045
$3s$${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$	99,663.377 (36)	99,663.427	−0.050
$3s$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$	99,663.877 (29)	99,663.912	−0.035
$4s$${}^4$P${}_{1/2}$	103,622.4773 (50)	103,622.51	−0.03
$4s$${}^4$P${}_{3/2}$	103,667.1214 (50)	103,667.16	−0.04
$4s$${}^4$P${}_{5/2}$	103,735.4527 (50)	103,735.48	−0.03
$4s$${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$	104,144.780 (29)	104,144.820	−0.04
$4s$${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$	104,221.585 (36)	104,221.630	−0.045
$3d$${}^2$F${}_{5/2}$	104,810.3327 (48)	104,810.360	−0.0273
$3d$${}^2$F${}_{7/2}$	104,881.312 (36)	104,881.350	−0.038
$3d$${}^4$P${}_{5/2}$	104,825.0702 (48)	104,825.110	−0.040
$3d$${}^4$P${}_{3/2}$	104,859.6953 (49)	104,859.73	−0.04
$3d$${}^4$P${}_{1/2}$	104,886.0684 (49)	104,886.10	−0.03
$3d$${}^4$D${}_{1/2}$	104,984.3238 (50)	104,984.37	−0.05
$3d$${}^4$D${}_{3/2}$	104,996.2343 (50)	104,996.27	−0.04
$3d$${}^4$D${}_{5/2}$	105,008.5141 (50)	105,008.55	−0.04
$3d$${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$	105,119.8418 (49)	105,119.880	−0.038
$3d$${}^2$D${}_{5/2}$	105,143.6799 (50)	105,143.710	−0.030
$5s$${}^2$P${}_{1/2}$	110,035.678 (29)	110,035.720	−0.042
$5s$${}^2$P${}_{3/2}$	110,103.793 (36)	110,103.834	−0.041
$4d$${}^2$F${}_{5/2}$	110,286.276 (29)	110,286.305	−0.029
$4d$${}^4$P${}_{3/2}$	110,299.937 (29)	110,299.974	−0.037
$4d$${}^2$F${}_{7/2}$	110,362.398 (36)	110,362.462	−0.064
$5d$${}^2$F${}_{7/2}$	112,891.180 (36)	112,891.238	−0.058

lists the level energies of 25 states and makes a comparison with the values from the NIST database. A global and consistent negative offset, of −0.04 cm${}^{-1}$, is observed. For the $2p^3$${}^2$D${}_J$ metastable states, larger deviations are found of size −0.07 and −0.09 cm${}^{-1}$.

The determination of ${}^2$D${}_J$ level energies presented in the NIST database is likely based on the VUV measurements by Kaufman and Ward [2], which are determined by taking a combination of the differences of transitions ${}^2$D${}_J$ – $3s$${}^2$P${}_J$ and ${}^2$P${}_J$ – $3s$${}^2$P${}_J$ and the forbidden transition ${}^4$S${}_{3/2}$ – ${}^2$P${}_J$ measured by Eriksson. The relative uncertainty of the VUV measurements [2] is tested by comparing the fine-structure splitting of ${}^2$D${}_J$ and ${}^2$P${}_J$ with results from laser magnetic resonance [35] and paramagnetic resonance [31], respectively. The fitted ${}^2$P${}_J$ splitting is 0.391 (18) cm${}^{-1}$, while the paramagnetic resonance measurement gives 0.4326 (27) cm${}^{-1}$, reflecting a 2.3 $\sigma$ difference.

The $2s^{2}2p^3{}^2$D${}_{5/2}$ – ${}^2$D${}_{3/2}$ splitting extracted from the FTS data here and the VUV laser study [9] is 8.72 (3) cm${}^{-1}$, which is consistent with the accurate value for the fine-structure splitting study via laser magnetic resonance, yielding 8.720957 (7) cm${}^{-1}$ [35].

These considerations support additional evidence for the consistency of the present FT data and the previous VUV laser precision data. At the same time, they support evidence for the inconsistency, i.e., the global shift in the NIST tabulated data for N I levels.

4.2. Isotope Shifts

The finite mass M of the nucleus results in a small nuclear motion in the center of mass reference frame, where the nuclear momentum $\mathbf{P}$ and electron momenta ${\mathbf{p}}_i$ are conserved: $\mathbf{P}=-{\sum }_i{\mathbf{p}}_i$. The mass shift can be calculated from the expectation value of the nuclear kinetic energy operator:

$$\frac{{\mathbf{P}}^2}{2M}=\frac{1}{2M}\sum _i{\mathbf{p}}_i^2+\frac{1}{2M}\sum _{i\ne j}{\mathbf{p}}_i·{\mathbf{p}}_j.$$

(1)

The first term on the right-hand side represents the Bohr shift or normal mass shift (NMS), while the second term refers to the specific mass shift (SMS). The NMS is proportional to the atomic Rydberg constant and straightforwardly results in a blue shift for a heavier isotope. The SMS is related to electron correlation, so that its magnitude and sign are highly dependent on the specific level involved. Since the NMS and SMS terms depend quadratically on ${\mathbf{p}}_i$’s, they are often of the same order of magnitude, and in some cases are found to cancel [36]. We adopt the convention for the SMS such that:

$$\mathrm{SMS}=-\left(\frac{1}{M_B}-\frac{1}{M_A}\right)\left(k_u-k_l\right)$$

(2)

where isotopic masses follow $M_B>M_A$ and:

$$k_{\{u,l\}}=〈{\psi }_{\{u,l\}}\left|\sum _{i\ne j}{\mathbf{p}}_i·{\mathbf{p}}_j\right|{\psi }_{\{u,l\}}〉,$$

(3)

which ensures that a positive SMS shifts in the same direction as NMS. In the following discussions, we neglect the effects of nuclear field shifts and hyperfine structure [21,22] as these are smaller than the spectral resolution in the present study.

4.3. Isotope Shift in N I

For the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4{\mathrm{S}}_{3/2}-2s^{2}2p^{2}3s{}^4{\mathrm{P}}_J$ transition in nitrogen, the normal mass shift, NMS(${}^{15}\mathrm{N}$) − NMS(${}^{14}\mathrm{N}$), amounts to 0.229 cm${}^{-1}$, while it is 0.242 cm${}^{-1}$ for the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4{\mathrm{S}}_{3/2}-2s2p^4{}^4{\mathrm{P}}_J$ transition. As listed in Table 1, the isotopic shift ${\Delta }_{15-14}$ is not resolved for the transitions to the $2s^{2}2p^{2}3s{}^4{\mathrm{P}}_J$ levels, while a clear isotope splitting is observed for the transitions to $2s2p^4{}^4{\mathrm{P}}_J$ levels shown in Figure 2. The observed transitions originating from the metastable $2s^{2}2p^3{}^2\mathrm{D},{}^2\mathrm{P}$ states listed in Table 2 do not display any discernible IS splittings. The SMS for the $2s^{2}2p^3{}^4{\mathrm{S}}_{3/2}-2s2p^4{}^4{\mathrm{P}}_J$ transitions is extracted at $+0.40\left(1\right)$ cm${}^{-1}$.

A large IS is associated with the promotion of a $2s$ electron from the $2s^{2}2p^3$ ground state to the $2s2p^4$ configuration in the excited state. This is consistent with Clark’s [37,38] calculations, which showed that the dominant contributions to the k integrals (and SMS) increase with the number of $2p$ electrons. As a consequence, when the number of $2p$ electrons in the upper state is larger than that in the lower state, SMS is positive and hence enhances the total IS in the $2s2p^4$ excited state configuration. On the other hand, when the number of $2p$ electrons in the upper state is less than that in the lower state, SMS is negative and largely cancels the total IS for transitions to the $2s^{2}2p^{2}nl$ states. The same trend is found for transitions accessed by laser measurements in the infrared [21] and VUV range [9].

4.4. Isotope Shift in C I

For carbon, the ${}^{13}$C – ${}^{12}$C IS for the $2p^2$${}^3$P${}_J^{\prime }$ – $2p3s$${}^3$P${}_J$ transitions is about -0.10 cm${}^{-1}$ on average. In comparison with [10], there is an average difference of 0.009 cm${}^{-1}$, hence smaller than the combined uncertainty. Note that the ISs presented in [10] are taken from the theoretical values in [19] with an estimated uncertainty of 0.004 cm${}^{-1}$. The IS determined in the present study is consistent with, but more accurate than, the measurements of Haridass and Huber [18]. With an NMS of about 0.21 cm${}^{-1}$ for the C I transitions, SMS is derived to be −0.31(4) cm${}^{-1}$. The negative SMS can be understood from the same arguments as given above, stemming from the smaller number of $2p$-electrons in the upper state compared to the lower state in the ${}^3$P${}_J$ – $3s$${}^3$P${}_J$ transitions. On the other hand, measurements involving core-changing transitions from the $2s^{2}2p^2$ ground state to the $2s2p^3$ excited configuration in C I show a positive SMS resulting in large IS [17,18]. These are consistent with the expected results from ab initio calculations that employ different flavors of (post-)Hartree–Fock methods, obtaining varying levels of accuracy [19,37].

5. Conclusions

Accurate measurements of transition energies in nitrogen and carbon atoms were obtained at an absolute accuracy of 0.025 cm${}^{-1}$ using VUV Fourier-transform spectroscopy with a synchrotron radiation source. For ${}^{14}$N and ${}^{15}$N, transitions originating from the ground $2s^{2}2p^3$${}^3$P states, as well as from metastable states $2s^{2}2p^3$${}^2$D and $2s2p^3$${}^2$P states are observed. For ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{13}$C, transition energies for $2s^{2}2p^2$${}^3$P${}_{J^{\prime }}$ – $2s^{2}2p3s$${}^3$P${}_J$ lines were measured. The comprehensive dataset for N I is included in a reevaluation of the level energies of the excited states, in combination with data from a previous laser-based precision study [9]. This results in an averaged shift of −0.04 cm${}^{-1}$ with respect to the level energies reported in the NIST database [1].

The determination of isotope shifts for carbon and nitrogen in this study will be useful in assessing the effectiveness of various strategies in ab initio calculations for many-electron atoms, in particular towards the treatment of electron correlation. Such tests on isotopic shifts will be complementary to benchmarking with absolute level energies, where the most accurate theoretical description of multiple electrons remains a difficult challenge.