A study of laser photoionization of $^{177m}$Lu nuclear isomer

The hyperfine structure of transitions of the three-step photoionization scheme of lutetium, $5d6s^{2}$ $^{2}D_{3/2}$–$5d6s6p^{4}F^{\circ}_{5/2}$– $5d6s7s^{4}D_{3/2}$–(53375 cm$^{-1})^{\circ}_{1/2}$, for $^{177m}$Lu nuclear isomer has been investigated for the first time by laser resonance photoionization mass spectroscopy. Hyperfine-splitting constants, energy levels, and magnetic dipole and electrical quadrupole moments of the $^{177m}$Lu nucleus are determined. Isotope shifts of the isomer spectral lines relative to natural isotopes and $^{177m}$Lu have been investigated.