Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

X-ray laser implementation by means of a strong source of high-spin metastable atoms

J. S. Helman, Carl Rau, Carlos F. Bunge

Published Jan 1, 1983• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

High-spin metastable atomic beams of high density and extremely small divergence can be produced by electron capture during grazing-angle scattering of ion beams at ferromagnetic surfaces. This can be used to generate a long-lived reservoir of $\mathrm{Li} 1s2s2p ^{4}P_{\frac{5}{2}}^{0}$ with enough density of metastables so that after laser-induced transfer to $\mathrm{Li} 1s2{p}^{2}^{2}P$ strong lasing at 207 \AA{} should occur. This novel technique can also be used to produce a variety of other metastables known as potential candidates for lasing at shorter wavelengths.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.27.562

Related papers

On Producing Long-Lived Spin Polarized Metastable Atoms—Feasibility of Storing Electric Energy

Horst Schmidt-Böcking, Gernot Gruber

We describe a method of producing long-lived multiply excited spin polarized atoms or ions, the decay of which is strongly delayed or even blocked by intra-ionic magnetic stabilization. Special configurations with huge internal magnetic fields capture only spin polarized electrons in collisions with spin aligned atomic hydrogen gas targets. It is expected that the spin aligned configuration yields an extremely high internal magnetic field which will effectively block spin flip transitions. By this the lifetime of inner shell vacancies is expected to strongly increase.

Atoms•Jul 18, 2022•2 citations

Gain and lasing of optically pumped metastable rare gas atoms

Jiande Han, Michael C. Heaven

Optically pumped alkali vapor lasers are currently being developed in several laboratories. The objective is to construct high-powered lasers that also exhibit excellent beam quality. Considerable progress has been made, but there are technical challenges associated with the reactivity of the metal atoms. Rare gas atoms (Rg) excited to the np(5)(n+1)s (3)P(2) configuration are metastable and have spectral properties that are closely similar to those of the alkali metals. In principle, optically pumped lasers could be constructed using excitation of the np(5)(n+1)p←np(5)(n+1)s transitions. We have demonstrated this potential by observing gain and lasing for optically pumped Ar(*), Kr(*) and Xe(*). Three-level lasing schemes were used, with He or Ar as the collisional energy transfer agent that established the population inversion. These laser systems have the advantage of using inert reagents that are gases at room temperature.

Optics Letters•May 31, 2012•131 citations

A factor 1600 increase in neutral atomic beam intensity using laser cooling

Maarten D. Hoogerland, Jan P. J. Driessen, Edgar J. D. Vredenbregt +4 more

Using a three-step transverse cooling scheme, a strongly diverging flow of metastable Ne*(/sup 3/P/sub 2/) atoms is compressed into a small diameter (3 mm), well-collimated (1 mrad) atomic beam, using only 200 mW total laser power. This extremely valuable technique for frequency standard applications is applicable to many different atomic systems.>

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•Dec 17, 2002•1 citation

Evidence for continuous visible chemical lasing from the fast near resonant energy transfer pumping of atomic sodium

Kangkang Shen, He Wang, James L. Gole

Highly efficient energy transfer from selectively formed metastable states of S10 is used to pump sodium atom laser amplifiers at = 569, 616, and 819 nm and produce laser oscillation at 569nm.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations

Using quantum coherence to generate gain in the XUV and X-ray: gain-swept superradiance and lasing without inversion

Eyob Alebachew Sete, Anatoly A. Svidzinsky, Yuri V. Rostovtsev +4 more

It was shown some time ago that when the excitation of an ensemble of two-level atoms is swept in the direction of lasing, so that atoms are prepared in the excited state just as the radiation from previously excited atoms reaches them, the resulting laser amplifier is “highly anomalous” and yields superradiant emission without population inversion. We here show that transient gain in a three-level system has common features with Dicke superradiance and can yield strong extreme ultraviolet lasing in, for example, He atoms (at 58 nm) or He-like ions such asB3+(at 6.1 nm).

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics•Oct 14, 2011•48 citations

Laser-Based Metastable Krypton Generation

M. A. Dakka, Georgios Tsiminis, R. D. Glover +6 more

We demonstrate the generation of metastable krypton in the long-lived 1s^{5} state using laser excitation. The atoms are excited through a two-photon absorption process into the 2p^{6} state using a pulsed optical parametric oscillator laser operating near 215 nm, after which the atoms decay quickly into the metastable state with a branching ratio of 75%. The interaction dynamics are modeled using density matrix formalism and, by combining this with experimental observations, we are able to calculate photoionization and two-photon absorption cross sections. When compared to traditional approaches to metastable production, this approach shows great potential for high-density metastable krypton production with minimal heating of the sample. Here, we show metastable production efficiencies of up to 2% per pulse. The new experimental results gained here, when combined with the density matrix model we have developed, suggest that fractional efficiencies up to 30% are possible under optimal conditions.

arXiv:1805.05669•Physical Review Letters•Aug 31, 2018•29 citations
High-spin metastable atomic beams of high density and extremely small divergence can be produced by electron capture during grazing-angle scattering of ion beams at ferromagnetic surfaces. This can be used to generate a long-lived reservoir of Li1s2s2p4P520\mathrm{Li} 1s2s2p ^{4}P_{\frac{5}{2}}^{0}Li1s2s2p4P25​0​ with enough density of metastables so that after laser-induced transfer to \mathrm{Li} 1s2{p}^{2}^{2}P strong lasing at 207 \AA{} should occur. This novel technique can also be used to produce a variety of other metastables known as potential candidates for lasing at shorter wavelengths.
We describe a method of producing long-lived multiply excited spin polarized atoms or ions, the decay of which is strongly delayed or even blocked by intra-ionic magnetic stabilization. Special configurations with huge internal magnetic fields capture only spin polarized electrons in collisions with spin aligned atomic hydrogen gas targets. It is expected that the spin aligned configuration yields an extremely high internal magnetic field which will effectively block spin flip transitions. By this the lifetime of inner shell vacancies is expected to strongly increase.
Optically pumped alkali vapor lasers are currently being developed in several laboratories. The objective is to construct high-powered lasers that also exhibit excellent beam quality. Considerable progress has been made, but there are technical challenges associated with the reactivity of the metal atoms. Rare gas atoms (Rg) excited to the np(5)(n+1)s (3)P(2) configuration are metastable and have spectral properties that are closely similar to those of the alkali metals. In principle, optically pumped lasers could be constructed using excitation of the np(5)(n+1)p←np(5)(n+1)s transitions. We have demonstrated this potential by observing gain and lasing for optically pumped Ar(*), Kr(*) and Xe(*). Three-level lasing schemes were used, with He or Ar as the collisional energy transfer agent that established the population inversion. These laser systems have the advantage of using inert reagents that are gases at room temperature.
It was shown some time ago that when the excitation of an ensemble of two-level atoms is swept in the direction of lasing, so that atoms are prepared in the excited state just as the radiation from previously excited atoms reaches them, the resulting laser amplifier is “highly anomalous” and yields superradiant emission without population inversion. We here show that transient gain in a three-level system has common features with Dicke superradiance and can yield strong extreme ultraviolet lasing in, for example, He atoms (at 58 nm) or He-like ions such asB3+(at 6.1 nm).
We demonstrate the generation of metastable krypton in the long-lived 1s^{5} state using laser excitation. The atoms are excited through a two-photon absorption process into the 2p^{6} state using a pulsed optical parametric oscillator laser operating near 215 nm, after which the atoms decay quickly into the metastable state with a branching ratio of 75%. The interaction dynamics are modeled using density matrix formalism and, by combining this with experimental observations, we are able to calculate photoionization and two-photon absorption cross sections. When compared to traditional approaches to metastable production, this approach shows great potential for high-density metastable krypton production with minimal heating of the sample. Here, we show metastable production efficiencies of up to 2% per pulse. The new experimental results gained here, when combined with the density matrix model we have developed, suggest that fractional efficiencies up to 30% are possible under optimal conditions.