Selectivity Loss Due to Magnetic Field in Laser Isotope Separation of Gadolinium Based on Polarization Selection Rules

The magnetic field effect on the isotopic selectivity with J=2→2→1→0 multistep photoionization was studied by the experiment and the numerical analysis. Three linearly polarized dye laser pulses were used to photoionize the atomic gadolinium and the isotopic selectivity was measured by changing the magnetic field strength and the angle between the laser polarization and the magnetic field. The experimental data was reproduced well by the numerical simulation. From the oscillatory behavior of the isotopic selectivity, the Lande factor of the high-lying excited level (34,586.7 cm^-1) of atomic gadolinium was determined.