In this paper we discuss the hyperfine structure and isotope shift of the xenon atom. The study was performed using a semiconductor diode laser mounted in an extended-cavity configuration and emitting in the near-infrared range of spectrum. Doppler-free spectra of four transitions between 820 and 830 nm were obtained by using either a saturation spectroscopy technique in a cell or a laser-induced fluorescence technique on a collimated atomic metastable beam. The hyperfine coupling constants of ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ and ${}^{131}\mathrm{Xe}$ were determined for the levels ${1s}_5,$ ${1s}_4,$ ${1s}_2,$ ${2p}_2,$ ${2p}_4,$ and ${2p}_6$ (Paschen notation). Moreover, a systematic study of the isotope shift was performed for the ${1s}_3\to {2p}_4$ $(\lambda =820.8\mathrm{}\mathrm{nm})$ and ${1s}_5\to {2p}_6$ (λ=823.3 nm) transitions for which all the stable isotopes ${}^{128–131}\mathrm{Xe},$ ${}^{132}\mathrm{Xe},$ ${}^{134}\mathrm{Xe},$ and ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$ were fully resolved.

• Received 19 April 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.60.4409