Zero-phonon lines in the spectra of dysprosium atoms in superfluid helium

Abstract

We present an experimental study of a zero-phonon line (ZPL) in the absorption spectrum of Dy atoms solvated in superfluid He. The dopants reside in nanometer-sized spherical cavities known as atomic bubbles. We observe a temperature-dependent broadening of ZPL in the absorption spectrum. The effect is attributed to the scattering of thermal phonons on the atomic bubble that leads to the dephasing of the Dy transition dipole. The extrapolated ZPL intrinsic spectral width at zero temperature is 2300 times larger than the natural linewidth in a free atom. This can be assigned to a fast radiationless quenching of the upper state of the studied transition.