Isotope shifts of 6 s 5 d 3 D - states in neutral barium

Laser spectroscopy of the low lying 1 P and 3 D states in atomic barium has been performed. This work contributes substantially to the development of an effective laser cooling and trapping for heavy alkaline earth elements and aims in particular for a better understanding of the atomic wave function of these systems. Isotope shifts and hyperfine structures are ideal probes for the wave functions at the position of the nucleus. This is essential input for a theoretical evaluation of the sensitivity to fundamental symmetry breaking properties like permanent electric dipole moments. We report the first isotope shift measurements of the 3 D1,2-1 P1 transitions. A deviation of the King plot from its expected behavior has been observed. Further we have optically resolved the hyperfine structure of the 3 D1,2 states.