Atomic precision measurements provide a strong testing ground for new theoretical ideas and fundamental laws of physics. Measurement of the Lamb shift in the hydrogen atom is one of the best examples towards this -it resulted in the birth of QED in 1949 by Dyson, Feynman, Schwinger and Tomonaga. The precision measurements of the hyperfine structure in hydrogen and deuterium by Nafe, Nelson and Rabi indicated that the g-factor for the electron was not exactly 2 as predicted by Dirac, but slightly greater, due to QED effects. Thus the precision measurements are indispensable not only for developing new theory but also for the verification and fine-tuning of theoretical parameters. Precision measurement of hyperfine structure provide valuable information about the nucleus structure, which is helpful in fine tuning of atomic wave-functions used in theoretical calculations. The aim of the work reported in this thesis is the measurement of hyperfine frequency and the observation of hyperfine structure constant in alkali atoms and in Yb atom. This thesis is organized as follows. In Chapter 1, an introduction to the importance of Alkali atoms and Yb atom in the field of precision measurement will be discussed. The scope of this thesis is also discussed in this chapter. In Chapter 2, an introduction to hyperfine structure starting from the beginning of the atomic physics will be discussed. We have discussed about the LS-coupling, jj-coupling, and the influence of the atomic nucleus on atomic spectra. We have also discussed the Zeeman effect and Doppler broadening. In chapter 3, the detail of experimental technique used in this thesis as copropagating satabs, hyperfine frequency measurement using AOM scan, AOM lock and ring cavity has been discussed. Experimental technique to observe the EIT signal in two electron Yb system has been discussed, which can be improved the precision in frequency measurement because of the narrow line-width. In chapter 4, we describe the co-propagating saturated-absorption spectroscopy and its application in frequency measurement. Saturated-absorption spectroscopy (satabs) in a vapor cell is a standard technique used to stabilise the laser frequency. In normal satabs we are getting some extra peaks known as a crossover peaks because laser interact with different velocity group in a vapor cell. In satabs the crossover peaks are stronger and often swamp the true peaks. So we have developed a technique of co-propagating satabs to remove the spurious peak, which has several advantages over conventional satabs. The co-propagating satabs signal appears on a flat background (Doppler-free) with good signal-to-noise ratio and does not have the problem of crossover resonances in between hyperfine transitions. We have adapted this technique to make measurements of hyperfine intervals by using one laser along with an acousto-optic modulator (to produce the scanning pump beam). In chapter 5, we describe the measurement of the hyperfine interval in the 2P1/2 state of 7Li using the SAS technique in hot Li vapor. This technique produces spurious ground crossover resonances that are more prominent that the real peaks. So we have used this ground crossover to measure the hyperfine interval using AOM locking technique. We have developed a technique to measure the absolute frequencies of optical transitions by using an evacuated Rb-stabilized ring-cavity resonator as a transfer cavity. In chapter 6, we study the wavelength-dependent errors due to dispersion at the cavity mirrors by measuring the frequency of the same transition in the Cs D 2 line (at 852 nm) at three cavity lengths. The spread in the values shows that dispersion errors are below 30 kHz, corresponding to a relative precision of 10−10 . We give an explanation for reduced dispersion errors in the ring-cavity geometry by calculating errors due to the lateral shift and the phase shift at the mirrors, and show that they are roughly equal but occur with opposite signs. In chapter 7, we describe precision measurement of hyperfine structure in the 3P2 state of 171,173Yb, and see an unambiguous signature of the magnetic octupole coefficient C in 173Yb. The frequencies of the 3P23S1 transition at 770 nm → are measured using a Rb-stabilized ring-cavity resonator with an accuracy of 200 kHz. In 173Yb we obtain the hyperfine coefficients as A = − 742.11(2) MHz and B = 1339.2(2) MHz, which represent a two orders-of-magnitude improvement in precision, and C = 0.54(2) MHz. Using atomic-structure calculations for two-electron atoms, we extract the nuclear moments quadrupole Q =2.46(12)b and octupole Ω = 34.4(21)b × µN . The observation of nuclear octupole moment in two-electron atoms, to the best of our knowledge, was never reported before. In 171Yb we obtain the hyperfine coefficient A = 2678.49(8) MHz. Using this measurement as well as the previous measurement of A coefficient from our lab, we have compared the hyperfine anomalies for 1P1, 3P1 and 3P2 states. In chapter 8, we describe the EIT in two electron system of 174Yb from 1S0(Fg = 0) 3P1(Fe = 1). We have observed the EIT in degenerate two level system and → after lifting the degeneracy by applying the magnetic field we are getting five peaks. We have also observed the EIT in 173Yb. In 173Yb there are three degenerate two level system Fg =5/2 Fe =3/2, Fg =5/2 Fe =5/2, Fg =5/2 Fe =7/2. →→→ We have observed the same type of EIT signal for all the three transitions Fg = FFe = F, ±F + 1. → In Chapter 9, we give a broad conclusion to the work reported in this thesis and suggest future avenues of research to continue the work started here.

In dieser Arbeit wird eine, zeitabhängige, nicht störungstheoretische numerische Methode entwickelt, welche Ionisation und Anregung von Atomen oder Molekülen in Stößen mit entweder PB oder P beschreibt und auf der impact-parameter Methode basiert. Es wird eine spektrale close-coupling Methode verwendet, um die zeitabhängige Schrödinger-Gleichung zu lösen, in welcher die Wellenfunktion in (effektive) Ein- oder Zwei-Elektronen-Eigenzustände des Targets entwickelt wird. Dies beinhaltet auch eine erstmalige volle Zwei-Elektronen-Beschreibung von H2 in PB-Stößen. Rechnungen werden für PB-Stöße mit H, H2+ und H2 sowie He und den Alkaliatomen Li, Na, K und Rb durchgeführt. Daten für P-Stöße werden für H2 und die Alkaliatomen Li, Na und K erzielt. Die Methode wird durch einen detaillierten Vergleich der erhaltenen Ergebnisse für P-Stöße und für PB + He mit Literaturdaten verifiziert. Andererseits ergänzen die totalen und differentiellen Wirkungsquerschnitte für Ionisation und Anregung der Targets in PB-Stößen die spärliche Literatur. Sowohl die Resultate für verschiedene Targets als auch für PB- und P-Stöße werden miteinander verglichen. Ein Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit liegt auf der Untersuchung von PB + H2, welche die Abhängigkeit der Wirkungsquerschnitte vom Kernabstand und von der relativen Ausrichtung der molekularen Achse beinhaltet. Weiterhin werden Ergebnisse mit Ein-Elektronen-Modellpotentialen erzielt und mit der vollen Zwei-Elektronen-Beschreibung von H2 verglichen. Außerdem werden Energieverluste in PB-Stößen bestimmt. / In this work a nonperturbative, time-dependent numerical approach is developed which describes ionization and excitation of atoms or molecules by either PB or P impact based on the impact-parameter method. A spectral close-coupling method is employed for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in which the scattering wave function is expanded in (effective) one- or two-electron eigenstates of the target. This includes for the first time a full two-electron, two-center description of the H2 molecule in PB collisions. The radial part of the one-electron eigenstates is expanded in B splines while the two-electron basis is obtained with a configuration-interaction approach. Calculations are performed for PB collisions with H, H2+, and H2 as well as with He and alkali-metal atoms Li, Na, K, and Rb. Additionally, data are obtained for P collisions with H2, Li, Na, and K. The developed method is tested and validated by detailed comparison of the present findings for P impacts and for PB + He collisions with literature data. On the other hand, total and differential cross sections for ionization and excitation of the targets by PB impact complement the sparse literature data of this kind. Results gained from different targets as well as from PB and P impact are compared with each other and assessed. Furthermore, results obtained with one-electron model potentials are compared to the full two-electron description of H2. Finally, stopping powers for PB impacts are determined.