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IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics

Two-photon excitation of the n = 3 level in H and D atoms

Jeffrey Bokor A, Richard R. Freeman, J. C. White, R. H. Storz

Published Dec 1, 1981• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Tunable coherent ultraviolet radiation has been used to excite selectively the $n=3$ level in hydrogen and deuterium atoms via two-photon absorption from the ground state. The resulting Balmer-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ fluorescence at 656 nm was observed as well as resonant three-photon ionization. This work demonstrates several advantages over other techniques for selective detection of neutral H and D atoms, including three-dimensional spatial resolution and a remote monitoring capability afforded by the use of laser-induced-fluorescence detection.

DOI
10.1109/jqe.1981.1071042

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Two-photon excitation of the n=3 level in H and D atoms

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Optics Letters•Aug 1, 1980•22 citations
Tunable coherent ultraviolet radiation has been used to excite selectively the n=3n=3n=3 level in hydrogen and deuterium atoms via two-photon absorption from the ground state. The resulting Balmer-\ensuremathα\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremathα fluorescence at 656 nm was observed as well as resonant three-photon ionization. This work demonstrates several advantages over other techniques for selective detection of neutral H and D atoms, including three-dimensional spatial resolution and a remote monitoring capability afforded by the use of laser-induced-fluorescence detection.
Tunable coherent ultraviolet radiation has been used to excite selectively the n=3n=3n=3 level in hydrogen and deuterium atoms via two-photon absorption from the ground state. The resulting Balmer-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ fluorescence at 656 nm was observed as well as resonant three-photon ionization. This work demonstrates several advantages over other techniques for selective detection of neutral H and D atoms, including three-dimensional spatial resolution and a remote monitoring capability afforded by the use of laser-induced-fluorescence detection.
We have observed the 1S—3S and 1S—3D Doppler-free two-photon transitions in atomic hydrogen using a powerful narrow-band tunable light source at 205 nm. The excitation is monitored by looking at the fluorescent light emitted on the Balmer α transition. By this method we have been able to detect atomic hydrogen and atomic deuterium at low density (around 107-108 at/cm3). One of the possible applications of this method is the search of superheavy hydrogen atoms. These atoms composed of a heavy proton and an electron are predicted by some supersymmetry theories.1 Because of their important mass shift, they should be easily distinguishable from hydrogen, deuterium, or tritium. Using a preliminary centrifugation, we believe that we can improve the present limit (~10−15) on the abundance of these superheavy atoms.
Two-photon-resonant, three-photon ionization of atomic hydrogen and deuterium is performed at 243 nm, and the ions are detected by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The power dependence of the 1S-2S two-photon excitation and one-photon ionization of 2S hydrogen and deuterium are determined. The ionization step saturates at 4 x 10(6) W/cm(2). The two-photon step-power dependence varies with laser linewidth, with saturation occurring between 1 x 10(7) and 3 x 10(7) W/cm(2). The extraction electric field in the mass spectrometer does not affect the 2S excitation. Strong signals are recorded at atomic concentrations of 10(5) atoms/cm(3). Nonresonant ionization of background gases producing H(+) and D(+) is minimized.