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Physical Review A

Complete linear polarization of Lyman-αradiation from metastable hydrogen atoms in external electric fields

Wolfgang Harbich, R. Hippler, Hans Kleinpoppen, Hans O. Lutz

Published Apr 1, 1989• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The linear Stark effect of hydrogen was investigated for the metastable H(2s) state measuring the degree of linear polarization of field-induced Lyman-\ensuremath{\alpha} radiation. For sufficiently large electric fields (few kV/cm) the measured degree of linear polarization P is almost complete (P\ensuremath{\approxeq}-100%). This result is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, if the fine structure of hydrogen is taken into account.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.39.3388

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The linear Stark effect of hydrogen was investigated for the metastable H(2s) state measuring the degree of linear polarization of field-induced Lyman-\ensuremath{\alpha} radiation. For sufficiently large electric fields (few kV/cm) the measured degree of linear polarization P is almost complete (P\ensuremath{\approxeq}-100%). This result is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, if the fine structure of hydrogen is taken into account.
The linear polarization of Lyman-\ensuremath{\alpha} radiation emitted when hydrogen atoms in the metastable 2s1/2{\mathit{s}}_{1/2}s1/2​ state traverse an external electric field is studied as a function of the effective rise time of the field for field strengths extending from very small values up to 6 keV/cm. With decreasing rise time, the measured polarization exhibits a transition from adiabatic to sudden behavior. The transition region is centered at a rise time which is approximately equal to the characteristic time associated with the 2${\mathit{s}}_{1/2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}222{\mathit{p}}_{1/2}$ Lamb splitting in the unperturbed hydrogen system. The experimental data are well described by the results of a time-dependent theory.
The polarizations of Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiation produced (i) by electron impact on atomic and molecular hydrogen and (ii) by electric field quenching of metastable 2S2S2S hydrogen atoms have been measured. The polarization analyzer was a LiF crystal set at the Brewster angle, with reflected radiation being detected by an iodine-vapor photon counter. Generally good agreement between the measured polarization fractions and recent theoretical predictions was found. The radiation produced by quenching metastable atoms in an electric field was found to be polarized with a polarization fraction of -0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02, which compares with the theoretical value -0.323.
The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-α line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. We observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.
The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-α line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s1/2 and 2p1/2 levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. For larger electric field, saturation is observed and related to the beam finite transit time. We also observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.