Hyperfine structure intervals and absolute frequency measurement in the 2p(4)3s P-2(J)->2p(4)3p D-2(J), fine-structure multiplet of atomic fluorine by diode laser spectroscopy

We have measured the hyperfine structure splittings of the three components of the 2p(4)3s P-2(J)-->2p(4)3p D-2(J') multiplet in atomic fluorine using both Doppler-free saturated absorption spectroscopy with an external cavity diode laser and Doppler-limited absorption spectroscopy with a noncavity diode laser. Specifically, we have obtained spectra of the J = 1/2 --> J' = 3/2 transition 780 nm, the J = 3/2 --> J' = 5/2 transition at 775 nm, and the J = 3/2 --> J' = 3/2 transition at 761 nm. The fluorine atoms were generated from a 10% mix of F-2 in He using a 2.45-GHz microwave generator and cavity pressures of approximately 0.5 torr. We report here values for hyperfine splittings and constants for the upper and lower states of these transitions. In addition, the absolute frequency of one of the hyperfine components of the J = 1/2 --> J' = 3/2 transition at 780 nm was measured using a recent absolute frequency measurement of the D-2 transition in Rb.