Help on Search Form

The search criteria defined by the different input fields are combined by the logical AND operator. It means, for example, if you specify the spectrum and the Specific Subject of research, you will receive the list of papers referring to this spectrum AND the selected research subject.

The input fields that are represented by scrollable menus allow multiple selections. If you select multiple entries from a scrollable menu, these individual entries are combined by the logical OR operator. It means, for example, if you select the capitalized JOURNALS and BOOKS entries from the Publication Source list (by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking with the mouse on these entries), you will receive the list of papers published either in any journal OR in any book.

Any blank field or a menu with no highlighted selection is ignored in the search. (Menu items can be de-selected by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking with the mouse on these entries.)

The output list of references can be sorted by the publication year (in descending order) or by the first author's last name. The sorting mode can be selected using the radio buttons at the bottom of the form, above the Search for References button.

The text below contains directions on the use of individual input fields in the search form.

Spectra:

The spectra are specified using the commonly used spectroscopic designations. For example, the second spectrum of iron (which is singly ionized iron) is designated as Fe II. Alternatively, the same spectrum can be designated as Fe+. The third spectrum of iron can be specified either as Fe III, or Fe2+, or Fe Cr-like. Negative ions can be specified by attaching a minus symbol after the element symbol, e.g. H-. Multiple spectra of different elements can be specified in one input line. For example, the string Al I-III,V; Mg II will result in a list of papers where Al I, Al II, Al III, Al V, or Mg II are investigated. Note that the parts of the input string relevant to different elements must be separated by semicolon. A range of ionization stages of a certain element can be specified by a pair of roman numbers separated by a dash. Alternatively, a range of isoelectronic sequences can be specified as in this example: C H-like-Li-like (this is equivalent to C IV-VI). A range of elements having consecutive atomic numbers in the Periodic Table can be given by the first and last element symbols separated by dash. For example the string La-Lu I-IV means "any of the first four spectra of the lanthanides". Element symbols should be specified as given in the NIST's Periodic Table of the Elements. Deuterium and tritium can be specified by symbols D and T, respectively. Specific isotopes of the elements can be specified by an atomic number of the isotope before the element symbol, e.g. 87Rb I. Note: This input field is case-insensitive.

Word/Pattern in Title:

Specify any fragment of the article title to search for. Those who are familiar with UNIX-style regular expressions can use them to a limited extent. For example, to search for titles that contain either ATOMIC or IONIC, one can use a string ATOMIC|IONIC. To search for titles in which the letter A is immediately followed by any number, one can use the string A[0-9]. Note: This input field is case-insensitive.

Author(s):

Usually, it is sufficient to specify the author(s) last name(s) delimited by comma. If more than one author name is given, they are combined by the logical AND operator. That is, the returned list will contain the papers that have ALL specified authors in any order. If there are more than one author with the same last name, you can narrow your search by specifying the author's initials before the last name. If the author's name has a postfix (e.g. Jr. or Sr.), this postfix may be specified after the last name, e.g. Haynes Jr. The author names having accented letters or other special characters should be given using similar Latin letters without accents, e.g. Träbert or Weiß should be given as Trabert or Weiss, respectively. A fragment of the author's last name can be used in the search. For example, a search for "Lamb" will select all papers of authors whouse last name comtains "lamb", e.g. "Lamb Jr.", "Flambaum", "Lambert", etc. To restrict the search to author names that start with the given fragment, include the hat symbol (^) before the name fragment, e.g. "^Lamb". To restrict the search to author names that end with the given fragment, include the dollar symbol ($) after the name fragment, e.g. "Ho$". Note: This input field is case-insensitive.

Publication Year From/To:

If you are searching for papers published within just one year, it is sufficient to specify this year only once in the From field. All four digits of the year must be given.

Publication Source:

This scrollable menu consists of several sections given in the following order: Journals, Collections, Books, Reports, Theses. In each section, the publication names are in alphabetical order. For convenience, the section names are given in capital letters at the top of the menu. They are also repeated at the top of each section. If the capitalized name of the section is selected, the search will include all publications in this section. For journals, the list has abbreviated journal names. For books and collections, the book title is given. For reports and theses, the list contains the names of the institutions that published these reports and theses. The list of publication sources allows for multiple selections. If multiple entries are selected, they are combined by the logical OR operator. For example, if Phys. Lett. A and Phys. Rev. A are selected, the search will include papers published in Phys. Lett. A OR Phys. Rev. A.

Method Type:

If the Experiment box is checked (and the Theory and Both boxes are empty), the search will include only experimental papers. If the Theory box is checked (and the Experiment and Both boxes are empty), the search will include only theoretical papers. If the Both box is checked, then the search will include only papers that discuss both experiment and theory, regardless of the state of the Experiment and Theory boxes.

Special A-value Type:

If the Forbidden Lines box is checked (and the Both box is empty), the search will include only papers with data on forbidden lines. If neither this box nor the Both box are checked, the search will include only papers with data on allowed lines. If the Relative A-values box is checked (and the Both box is empty), the search will include only papers with data on relative A-values. If neither this box nor the Both box are checked, the search will include only papers with data on absolute A-values. If the Both box is checked, then, the search will include only papers that discuss relative A-values for forbidden lines, regardless of the state of the Forbidden Lines and Relative A-values boxes.

Specific Subject:

Research subjects included in the list are divided into three sections: EXPERIMENTAL, THEORETICAL, and OTHER. Selection of a capitalized section name from the list will result in a search that includes papers with any research subject included in this section. For example, if you select OTHER, the search will include papers that contain either Comment or Compilation (see definitions below). If more than one entry is selected in the list of subjects, they are combined by the logical OR operator. That is, for example, if you select Absorption and Emission, the search will include papers having numerical data on transition probabilities obtained in either Absorption OR Emission experiments. Description of various Specific Subjects is given in the list below.

1. EXPERIMENTAL:
   • Absorption: Measurements in absorption (King furnace, absorption tube, etc.).
   • Emission: Measurements in emission (arc, furnace, discharge tube, shock tube, etc.).
   • Hook: Anomalous dispersion measurements.
   • Lifetime: Lifetime measurements (including Hanle effect).
   • Miscellaneous: Miscellaneous experimental methods (for example, Stark effect, astrophysical measurements, etc.).
2. THEORETICAL:
   • Quantum: Quantum mechanical (including self-consistent field) calculations.
   • Coulomb approximation: Coulomb approximation calculations.
   • Estimation: Transition probabilities estimated from sum rules, etc.
   • Interpolation: Interpolation with isoelectronic sequences, spectral series, or homologous atoms; also, data that are presented in graphical, rather than tabular, form.
3. OTHER:
   • Comment: Additions or suggested revisions to data in previous articles; comments on particular theoretical or experimental methods, etc.
   • Compilation: Compilation of theoretical and/or experimental data on transition probabilities.

General Interest Category:

You can make multiple selections of General Interest Categories by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking with the mouse on the individual topics in the list. If you select multiple topics, they are combined by logical OR. For example, if both Literature compilations and Review articles are selected, the search will include papers that are relevant to either the first OR the second of these categories. The search can be narrowed by specifying other search terms such as Author(s), Publication Year, Experiment/Theory, etc.