Excitation energy transfer in the Li-Cs collision: Li*(2P)+Cs(6S)→Li(2S)+Cs*(5D)

The measurement of the collisional cross section for the process Li*(2P)+Cs(6S)→Li(2S)+Cs*(5D) are reported. The technique of resonant Doppler-limited two-photon laser excitation with thermionic detection is applied. The population density of the Cs*5D state is probed by photoionization, and the signals of the Cs(6S)→Cs*(5D) and the Li(2S)→Li*(2P) transitions are compared. The value for cross section of 30 Ų is measured, with an accuracy of 45%.     

Fine structure excitation transfer between the potassium 42P states induced by collisions with caesium atoms

Applying diode-laser resonant fluorescence method, the cross sections for the excitation energy transfer of the collisional process K*(4² P _1/2)+Cs(6² S _1/2)?K*(4² P _3/2)+Cs(6² S _1/2) have been measured. The values we have obtained are σ(1/2→3/2)=77 Ų and σ(3/2→1/2)=48 Ų. These results complete the sequence of data for the fine-structure mixing of the first-resonance states of alkali atoms colliding with the ground-state caesium atoms.     

Fine structure excitation transfer between the lithiumD-lines by collisions with cesium atoms

Applying resonant Doppler-free 2-photon laser spectroscopy with thermionic diode detection, the cross sections for the excitation energy transfer of the collisional process⁷Li*(2P _1/2+Cs(6S _1/2)→⁷Li*(2P _3/2)+Cs(6S _1/2) have been measured. The experimental cross sections, σ^Li-Cs (1/2→3/2)=890 Ų and σ^Li-Cs (3/2→1/2)=430 Ų, are compared with theoretical data obtained by a sudden impact approximation approach taking into account the long-range interaction potentials only. The calculated cross sections show an excitation mixing process at large internuclear distances where Li-Cs dipole-dipole and dipole-quadrupole interaction forces are predominant.     

The interaction of metastable helium atoms with alkaline earth atoms: He*(23 S,21 S)+Mg,Ca, Sr and Ba

We have carried out experimental and theoretical studies of Penning ionization processes occurring in thermal energy collisions of state-selected metastable He*(2³ S) and He*(2¹ S) atoms with ground state alkaline earth atoms X(X=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). Penning ionization electron energy spectra for these eight systems, measured with a crossed-beam set-up perpendicular to the collision velocity at energy resolutions 40–70 meV, are reported; relative populations of the different ionic X ⁺ (ml) states are presented and well depths D*_e for the He*+X entrance channel potentials with uncertainties around 25 meV are derived from the electron spectra as follows: He*(2³ S)+Mg/Ca/Sr/Ba: 130/250/240/260 meV; He*(2¹ S) +Mg/Ca/Sr/Ba: 300/570/550/670 meV. The spectra show substantial differences for the three ionic states X ⁺(² S), X ⁺(² P) and X ⁺(² D) and reveal that transitions to a repulsive potential — attributed to He+X ⁺(² P)² Σ formation — are mainly involved for the X ⁺(² P) channel. Ab initio calculations of potential curves, autoionization widths, electron energy spectra and ionization cross sections are reported for the systems He*(2³ S)+Ca and He*(2¹ S)+Ca. The respective well depths D _e ^* are calculated to be 243(15) meV and 544(15) meV; the ionization cross sections at the experimental mean energy of 72 meV amount to 101 Ų and 201 Ų, respectively. Very good overall agreement with the experimental electron spectra is observed.     

Collisions of metastable Ne*, He* atoms with ground-state He,Ne atoms studied by atomic beam and laser techniques

A crossed nozzle-beam experiment is used to investigate thermal energy collisions: Ne*(2p ⁵3s,³ P _{0, 2})+He(1s ²,¹ S ₀), almost purely elastic, and He*(1s2s,^{1, 3} S)+Ne(2p ⁶,¹ S ₀), in which inelastic excitation transfers occur. State and velocity selection of the scattered Ne* atoms is performed using a tunablecw dye laser frequency locked on a definite Zeeman component of the transition 1s ₅→2p ₆ (λ=614.3 nm) of²⁰Ne or²²Ne. In the purely elastic case, this technique allows the selection of one of the two final velocities, and then an unambiguous LAB-CM transformation. The differential cross section at 62 meV tallies on accords with a calculation using a single effective potential. In He* on Ne collisions, the main inelastic processes are endothermic excitation transfers from He*(2¹ S). Experimental results obtained at different energies (62, 95, 109, 124 meV) show that the transfers essentially result in levels 3s and 4d of Ne.     

Lifetime of the 4D 3/2 and 4D 5/2 metastable states in Sr II

Sr⁺ ions were confined in a r.f. quadrupole trap for times of the order of 30 min. The metastable 4D states were populated via laser excitation of the 5P states. The weak quadrupole transition rate into the 5S _1/2 ground state at 674 and 687 nm was deduced from observation of the exponential decay. At background pressures above 10^?7 mbar the radiative decay is dominated by collisional quenching. Extrapolation of the observed decay rate to zero background pressure yields the radiative lifetimes. At pressures around 10^?6 mbar fine structure mixing collisions between the 4D states have been observed, which lead to corrections of the extrapolated lifetimes. As the final result we obtain 395±38 ms for 4D _3/2 and 345±33 ms for 4D _5/2. These results are somewhat higher than theoretical predictions.     

The state dependence of the interaction of metastable rare gas atoms Rg*(ms3 P 2,3 P 0) (Rg=Ne,Ar, Kr,Xe) with ground state sodium atoms

Using crossed beams of metastable rare gas atoms Rg*(ms³ P ₂,³ P ₀) (Rg=Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) and ground state sodium atoms Na(3s ² S _1/2), we have measured the energy spectra of electrons released in the respective Penning ionization processes at thermal collision energies. For Rg*(³ P ₂)+Na(3s), the spectra are quite similar for the different rare gases, both in width and shape; they reflect attractive interactions in the entrance channel with well depthsD* _e [meV] decreasing slowly from Rg=Ne to Xe as follows: 676(18); 602(23); 565(26); 555(30). For Rg*(³ P ₀)+Na(3s), the spectra vary strongly with the rare gas, indicating a change in the character of the interaction from van der Waals type attraction (Ne) to chemical binding for Kr and Xe with well depthsD* _e [meV] of: 51(19); 107(25); 432(30); 530(50). These findings are explained through model calculations of the respective potential curves, in which the exchange and the spin orbit interaction in the excited rare gas and the molecular interaction between the two valences-electrons in terms of suitably chosen singlet and triplet potentials are taken into account. These calculations also explain qualitatively the experimental finding that the ratiosq ₂/q ₀ of the ionization cross sections for Rg*(³ P ₂)+Na and Rg*(³ P ₀)+Na vary strongly with the rare gas from Ne to Xe as follows: 15.8(3.2); 2.6(4); 1.4(2); 1.6(4).     

Detailed electron spectrometric study of the ionization of H2 by He* (21 S, 23 S)

The energy spectra of electrons released in thermal energy (≈ 50 meV) ionizing collisions of He*(2¹ S, 2³ S) with H₂ have been measured with high resolution and low background. Based on a detailed data analysis, we report accurate H ₂ ⁺ (v′) vibrational populationsP(v′) for both He*(2¹ S)+H₂(v′=0–10) and He*(2³ S)+H₂(v′=0–15) and the spectral shapeS(ε) for the individual vibrational peaks. The vibrational populationsP(v′) are quite similar to the Franck-Condon factorsf _v ′0 for unperturbed H₂(v″=0)→H ₂ ⁺ (v′) transitions, but, more in detail, the ratiosP(v′)/f _v ′0 show a characteristically differentv′-dependence for He*(2³ S), He*(2¹ S), and HeI_α(58.4 nm) ionization. The vibrational level separations in the He*(2¹ S, 2³ S)+H₂ spectra agree with those in the HeI photoelectron spectrum to within 1–2 meV. The spectral shapesS(ε) are characteristically different for He*(2¹ S)+H₂ and He*(2³ S)+H₂, reflecting the respective differences in the entrance channel potentials, as determined previously in ab initio calculations and from scattering experiments.     

Diffusion of resonance radiation in atomic vapor imaging

The effect of resonance radiation diffusion due to radiation trapping has been studied in an atomic vapor imaging filter. Using a cesium resonance fluorescence imaging monochromator, the spatial distortions due to resonance radiation trapping by Cs atoms in the pumping/imaging region have been investigated. It was found that the spatial distortions were dependent on the number density of the Cs atoms, as well as the irradiance of the signal photons at 852.12 nm (6²S_1/2→6²P^o_3/2). The pump laser (917.23 nm, 6²P^o_3/2→6²D_5/2) did not influence the radiation diffusion to the same degree as the signal beam. It is shown that there is a compromise between maximum optical density and spatial resolution. The number density of the Cs resonance fluorescence imaging monochromator was optimized to obtain the highest spatial resolution and signal-to-background ratio.     

Perspectives of laser-chemical isotope separation of a long-lived fission product: cesium-135

The cesium isotope ¹³⁵Cs has an extremely long half-life (τ_1/2 = 2.3 · 10⁶ y) and its high water solubility leads to the anxiety of exudation to ground water during geological disposal. Such a LLFP ¹³⁵Cs would be converted into ¹³⁶Cs (Its half-life is 13.16 d and it becomes stable ¹³⁶Ba) by neutron capture reaction. However intermingling ¹³³Cs of which the natural abundance is 100% disturbs this nuclear converting reaction because ¹³³Cs also absorbs neutrons and produces ¹³⁵Cs again. For separating ¹³⁵Cs from other cesium isotopes, laser-chemical isotope separation (LCIS) is believed to be suitable mainly due to the light absorption and emission stability. Isotope separation of alkali metal ⁸⁵Rb/⁸⁷Rb was successfully achieved, showed 23.9 of head separation factor by LCIS. The measured isotope shift of Cs D₂ line is within the reach of available semiconductor lasers having emission line width of less than 1 MHz, which shows that the selective excitation of ¹³⁵Cs may turn to be possible. It is known that cesium excited to the 6²P_3/2 state may forms cesium hydride while ground-state cesium does not. Therefore if the lifetime of 6²P_3/2 state is sufficiently longer than the inverse rate of the chemical reaction, ¹³⁵Cs can be extracted as cesium hydride. Applicability of the Doppler-free two-photon absorption method for selective excitation and further evaluation on Rydberg states and ionization should be investigated.     

Population and deactivation of lowest lying barium levels by collisions with He,Ar, Xe and Ba ground state atoms

Excitation transfer between the barium low lying excited states 6s6p ³ P ₁ ⁰ , 6s5d ¹ D ₂ and 6s5d ³ D _J by collisions with He,Ar,Xe and Ba has been investigated. The population densities in all levels involved were probed by absorption or by fluorescence usingcw lasers. The depopulation cross sections of the Ba³ P ₁ ⁰ state by collisions with noble gases were found to be σ_He(³ P ₁ ⁰ )=5.5·10^?16 cm², σ_Ar(³ P ₁ ⁰ )=4.6·10^?16 cm², and σ_Xe(³ P ₁ ⁰ )=1.7·10^?16 cm². For Ar, the collisional depopulation of the³ P ₁ ⁰ level is exclusively due to the transition to the¹ D ₂ state. Under the assumption that the³ D _J metastable states are populated collisionally by¹ D ₂ →³ D _J transfer only, we have deduced the upper limit for the corresponding cross section σ ₁₃ ^Ar =1.5·10^?18 cm². From the Ba¹ D ₂ and Ba³ D _J steady-state diffusion distributions, collisional relaxation rates of the¹ D ₂ and³ D _J levels were evaluated. The collisional relaxation rates by Ar and Ba yielded total cross sections for the depopulation of metastable levels: σ_Ar(¹ D ₂)=1.5·10^?17 cm², σ_Ba(¹ D ₂)?1·10^?13 cm², σ_Ar(³ D _J)=7·10^?21 cm², and σ_Ba(³ D _J)=1·10^?15 cm². Furthermore, it was found that the main contribution of the collisional depopulation of the¹ D ₂ state by Ar is related to back transfer to the³ P _J ⁰ state, whereas the deactivation of the³ D _J metastable state is due to back transfer to the¹ D ₂ state. Taking into account other cross sections reported in literature we can conclude that collisional deactivation of both metastable levels by Ba ground state atoms can be attributed to their mutual collisional mixing.     

Electronic energy transfer from the S2 state of rhodamine 6G

In this paper we present the results of an experimental study of intermolecular electronic energy transfer (EET) from the short-lived Second excited singlet state of rhodamine 6G (R6G) to the ground state of 2,5-bis [5′-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl] thiophene (BBOT). The S₂ state of the donor was excited by sequential, time-delayed, two-photon excitation (STDTPE) utilizing the second harmonic and the first harmonic of a mode-locked Nd³⁺: glass laser, while the EET process was interrogated by monitoring the enhancement of the S₁ → S₀ fluorescence of BBOT. The enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of BBOT was found to be linear in the energies of the two exciting pulses, and linear in the concentration of the energy acceptor (over the BBOT concentration range of (0.3–7) × 10^?5 M), which is in accord with the predictions of the Forster—Dexter mechanism for resonant EET from an ultrashort-lived donor state at low acceptor concentrations. Quantitative measurements of the S₂ → S₀ fluorescence yield in R6G solution directly excited by STDTPE and of the S₁ → S₀ fluorescence of BBOT from R6G + BBOT solutions resulting from EET led to the values of Y_D(S₂ → S₀) = (2.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?6 for the emission quantum yield of the S₂ state of R6G and τr_D(S₂) ≈ 3 × 10^?14 s for the lifetime of the metastable S₂ state of this molecule.     

The interaction of metastable helium atoms with alkali atoms

Using crossed beams of ground state alkali atoms A (A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) and metastable He(2³ S), He(2¹ S) atoms, we have measured the energy spectra of electrons resulting in the respective Penning ionization processes at: thermal collision energies. The data are interpreted to yield the well depthD _e ^* of the²Σ interaction potentials as follows: He(2³ S)+A:D _e ^* (A=Li)=868(20) meV;D _e ^* (Na)=740(25) meV;D _e ^* (K)=591(24) meV;D _e ^* (Rb)=546(18) meV;D _e ^* (Cs)=533(18) meV. He(2¹ S)+A:D _e ^* (Li)=330(17) meV;D _e ^* (Na)=277(24) meV;D _e ^* (K)=202(23) meV;D _e ^* (Rb)=219(18) meV;D _e ^* (Cs)=277(18) meV. The well depth for He(2³ S)+A(²Σ) is always close to 80% of the well depth for Li(2s)+A(X ¹Σ). The ionization cross sections for He(2¹ S)+A are about 3 to 4 times larger than those for He(2³ S)+A.     

Measurement of the radiative lifetime of the cesium 5D5/2 level using pulsed excitation and delayed probe absorption

The 5D_5/2 level of cesium is populated by pulsed 540 nm photodissociation of Cs₂, and selectively detected via the 6P_3/2 population that results by radiative decay. It is monitored by absorption of a delayed probe pulse. Its time evolution yields a value of 1260±80 ns for the radiative lifetime of the Cs 5D_5/2 level, in good agreement with the calculation by Theodosiou [15].     

Collisional de-excitation of the metastableD-states of Ba+ by He,Ne, N2 and H2

The rate constants 〈σ · υ〉 for collisional de-excitation of the metastable 5D states of Ba⁺ ions have been determined in an ion trap experiment. TheD-states are selectively populated by pulsed laser excitation of the 6P _1/2 or 6P _3/2 state and the decay at different background pressures is monitored by the change in fluorescence intensity of the excited ions. From the pressure dependence of the decay constants we calculate the de-excitation rate constants for different collision partners, averaged over the velocity distribution of the trapped ion cloud. For He, Ne, H₂ and N₂ we obtain in the c.m. energy range of 0.1–0.5 eV: 〈σ·υ〉 (He)=3.0±0.2·10^?13cm³/s, 〈σ·υ〉 (Ne)=5.1±0.4·10^?13cm³/s, 〈σ·υ〉 (H₂)=3.7±0.3·10^?11cm³/s, 〈σ·υ〉 (N₂)=4.4±0.3·10^?11cm³/s. The results can be understood qualitatively by a consideration of the ion-atom and ion-molecules interaction potential.     

Natural radiative lifetimes in the2 S 1/2 and2 D 3/2, 5/2 sequences of neutral copper

Natural radiative lifetimes have been measured of the 3d ¹⁰ ns ² S _1/2 (n=6?10) and of the 3d ¹⁰ nd ² D _{3/2, 5/2} (n=5?9) sequences by using two step excitation of copper atoms in an atomic beam. The states investigated were populated by the light from two pulsed dye lasers pumped by the same Nd:YAG laser. The lifetimes of the² D sequence increase regularly with increasing principal quantum number. This is not the case for the² S series, because of configuration interaction in the² P series. In addition the lifetime of the 3d ¹⁰5p ² P _3/2 state has been measured together with its branching ratio.     

Angle-dependent electron energy spectra resulting from autoionizing Ne⋆ (3s 3 P 2) +H(12 S) collisions

Experimental angle-dependent electron energy spectra for the autoionization complex Ne*(3s ³ P ₂)+H(1² S), leading to Penning and associative ionization, are reported. The data, measured at thermal collision energies (ē _rel～51 meV), clearly show an angular variation of the spectral shape, indicating that electrons with angular momentuml>0 participate in the autoionization process. The corresponding non-isotropic electron emission leads to a correlation between the impact parameter-dependent heavy-particle dynamics and the observed electron energy spectrum at a certain detection angle. The experimental results are qualitatively discussed in connection with previous work on the system He*(2³ S)+H(1² S). Furthermore, we present quantum mechanical model-calculations for the electron energy spectrum on the basis of available potential data.     

Resonantly laser induced plasmas in gases: The role of energy pooling and exothermic collisions in plasma breakdown and heating

The present work is a systematic experimental study of the plasma formation in cesium vapor induced by a continuous laser tuned to the resonance transition 6S_1/2–6P_3/2. Taking into account the measured absolute population densities of Cs ground and excited state atoms as well as the electron densities derived from Stark broadening of the Cs lines, complete local thermodynamic equilibrium in the laser-produced plasma was found for laser power densities ≈ 10 Wcm^− 2 at cesium ground state number densities of about 10¹⁷ cm^− 3. Direct conversion of the excitation energy or parts of the excitation energy in exothermic collisions of laser-excited atoms is concluded to be the major process for atomic vapor heating and subsequent formation of LTE plasmas.     

Quantum efficiency improvement of a cesium based resonance fluorescence detector by helium-induced collisional excitation energy transfer

Quantum efficiency improvement of a cesium based resonance fluorescence detector (RFD) was achieved by enhancing the transfer in a particular channel of the RFD excitation scheme with noble gas-induced collisional excitation energy transfer (CEET). The influence of Cs–Ar and Cs–He collisional mixing between the 6D and 7P states in cesium on the quantum efficiency of the 6S → 6D → 7P → 6S excitation scheme was investigated by fluorescence measurements at relevant transitions. Ar-induced CEET was found to have little effect on the fluorescence response and quantum efficiency of the Cs RFD excitation scheme. However, a 35 fold quantum efficiency increase in the cesium resonance fluorescence detector response at only moderate He pressures was observed.     

Double photoionization of argon into the 3s3p 5 1 P- and3 P-states

Double photoionization of argon was studied by photon induced fluorescence spectroscopy (PIFS). Cross sections for the double photoionization into the 3s3p ^{5 1} P,³ P states of Ar⁺⁺ are presented for exciting photon energies between threshold and 120 eV. In the threshold range the energy dependencies of these cross sections were determined for the first time. Singlet and triplet states are populated with comparable probabilities at equal excess energies, in contrast to predictions of the extended Wannier theory. Athv=100 eV the spin-or-bit splitting of the 3s3p ^{5 3} P state was resolved, and a cross section for the production of Ar⁺⁺ 3s ⁰3p ^{6 1} S ₀ was determined for the first time.