High-resolution laser spectroscopy on H2 at 97–98 nm

A narrowband tunable eXtreme UltraViolet (XUV) laser source is used for a high resolution study of the Lyman (B ¹ _u ⁺ X ¹ _g ⁺ ) band system of molecular hydrogen. Seven rotational transitions of two vibrational bands, (10,0) and (11,0), in the wavelength range from 97.2–98.3 nm have been investigated for the first time under sub-Doppler molecular beam conditions. A calibration procedure using the I₂ standard in the visible yielded an absolute frequency accuracy of 0.02 cm^–1. The obtained H₂ transition frequencies provide a calibration standard in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength region.     

Measurement of nuclear moments and radii by collinear laser spectroscopy and by β-NMR spectroscopy

Experiments using laser spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been performed at ISOLDE on the unstable isotopes of several light elements. The results include nuclear ground state spins, magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments, and the behaviour of mean square nuclear charge radii within isotopic strings. These give important information about the nuclear structure at shell closures and close to the drip lines. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Precise laser spectroscopy of antiprotonic helium at CERN’s Antiproton Decelerator

The ASACUSA collaboration of CERN has carried out several laser spectroscopy experiments of antiprotonic helium atoms. By comparing the results with three-body QED calculations, the antiproton-to-electron mass ratio was determined as $M_{\overline{p}}/m_e=1836.152674(5)$ . We are now developing some laser systems and detectors to further improve the experimental precision.     

Development of a Lyman-α laser system for spectroscopy and laser cooling of antihydrogen

Hydrogen Lyman-α radiation (121.56 nm) is important because it allows for the excitation and detection of ground-state hydrogen atoms by a one-photon process. The trapping of antihydrogen, recently reported by the ALPHA collaboration at CERN, has revived interest in Lyman-α lasers. In order to perform high precision tests of matter-antimatter symmetry violations or gravity-antimatter interactions with antihydrogen, laser cooling using the 1s ? 2p single photon transition is essential. Recent theoretical simulations predict that even with a pulsed Lyman-α source, laser cooling of antihydrogen would be possible. Here we describe the implementation of a high power vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) laser at the Lyman-α transition of hydrogen. The VUV light was generated using a two-photon-resonant four-wave mixing process in a phase-matched mixture of krypton and argon. Two wavelengths (ω _R → 202.31 and ω _T → 602.56 nm) were mixed in a sum-difference scheme (ω _VUV = 2ω _R ? ω _T ) with a two-photon resonance at (4s ²4p ⁵5p[1/2]₀ ← 4s ²4p ⁶(1S ₀)) transition in Kr. With an Ar/Kr mixture of 3.9:1 we obtained 10 ns pulses of 0.1 μJ of energy at a repetition rate of 10 Hz.     

Diode-side-pumped Nd:GGG laser at 1,105?nm and frequency-doubled laser at 552?nm

A high-power diode-side-pumped 1,105?nm Nd:GGG laser and a laser at 552?nm based on intracavity frequency doubling of 1,105?nm laser are demonstrated for the first time. A 26.8-W 1,105?nm laser continuous wave output was achieved under the incident pump power of 170?W. A LiB₃O₅ crystal is used for second harmonic generation of 1,105?nm laser. When the pump power was 170?W, the average output power at 552?nm of 7.3?W was obtained, corresponding to the optical conversion efficiency of 4.3?%. And the minimum pulse width is 181?ns with the pulse repetition rate of 10?kHz. The M ² factors are measured to be 19.8 and 17.6 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.     

Two photon laser spectroscopy of antiprotonic helium atoms at CERN’s AD

The ASACUSA collaboration of CERN has carried out two-photon laser spectroscopy of antiprotonic helium atoms using counter-propagating ultraviolet laser beams. This excited some non-linear transitions of the antiproton at the wavelengths λ = 139.8–197.0 nm, in a way that reduced the thermal Doppler broadening of the observed resonances. The resulting narrow spectral lines allowed the measurement of three transition frequencies with fractional precisions of 2.3–5 parts in 10⁹. By comparing these values with three-body QED calculations, the antiproton-to-electron mass ratio was derived as 1836.1526736(23). We briefly review these results.     

Pulsed laser deposition—UV laser sources and applications

Progress in material research and processing industry is fueled by the technique of pulsed laser deposition (PLD). High energy excimer lasers enable this technique since every material is amenable to their high photon energies. Spectral properties, temporal pulse and laser beam parameters of state of the art excimer lasers will be compared with frequency converted Nd:YAG lasers. Both quality and longevity of the deposited layers strongly depend on the degree of accuracy achieved in the thin film ablation and subsequent deposition process.     

Properties of halo nuclei measured by laser and β NMR spectroscopy

The application of laser spectroscopy methods for a detailed investigation of nuclear moments and charge radii of halo nuclei has been restricted to only a few cases. Three such experiments are discussed, showing the potential of these methods for research on the nuclear halo structure. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Recent developments and projects in SANS instrumentation at LLB-Orphée

This article presents an overview of the recent developments in SANS and GISANS instrumentation at LLB-Orphée. SANS is a well-known technique, especially well adapted for research in material sciences, soft matter and nanosciences, which has proved to be particularly powerful to study complex systems, from nm to ??m, taking full advantage of isotopic labelling and contrast variation methods. In this article, two instruments will be described in some details: TPA, the new VSANS (Very-Small Angle Neutron Scattering) instrument which is now fully functional and PA20, the new SANS spectrometer under construction, which will extend LLB??s capabilities in terms of SANS for magnetism with a polarized neutron option and Grazing Incidence SANS (GISANS).     

An approach of open-path gas sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy

Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy(TDLAS)is a new method to detect trace-gas qualitatively or quantificationally based on the scan characteristic of the diode laser to obtain the absorption spectroscopy in the characteristic absorption region.A time-sharing scanning open-path TDLAS system using two near infrared distributed feedback(DFB)tunable diode lasers is designed to detect CH_4 and H_2S in leakage of natural gas.A low-cost Fresnel lens is used in this system as receiving optics which receives the laser beam reflected by a solid corner cube reflector with a distance of up to about 60 m.High sensitivity is achieved by means of wavelength-modulation spectroscopy with second-harmonic detection.The minimum detection limits of 1.1 ppm·m for CH_4 and 15 ppm·m for H_2S are demonstrated with a total optical path of 120 m.The simulation monitoring experiment of nature gas leakage was carried out with this system. According to the receiving light efficiency of optical system and detectable minimum light intensity of detection,the detectable optical path of the system can achieve 1-2 km.The sensor is suitable for natural gas leakage monitoring application.     

Coherent laser spectroscopy of ¯pHe+

The facilities of the coherent laser pulse spectroscopy of the ¯pHe⁺ transitions are considered taking the magnetic structure of the energy levels into account. The possibility for the observation of the dynamics of intramolecular motions is also analyzed.     

Study on CW Nd:YAG infrared laser at 1319 nm

A continuous wave (CW) Nd:YAG infrared laser at 1319 nm is reported in this paper. The energy level of 1319-nm wave was analyzed. The repression of 1064-nm lasing and enhancement of 1319-nm output power were discussed. Mirror coating and cavity structure were studied and a maximum CW output power of 43 W at 1319 nm was achieved in experiments.     

Fiber-distributed multi-channel open-path H_2S sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy

Tunable diode laser based gas detectors are now being used in a wide variety of applications for safety and environmental interest. A fiber-distributed multi-channel open-path H2S sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is developed, the laser used is a telecommunication near infrared distributed feed-back (DFB) tunable diode laser, combining with wavelength modulation spectroscopy technology, a detection limit of 20 ppm·m is demonstrated. Multi-channel detection is achieved by combining optical fiber technique. An on-board reference cell provides on-line sensor calibration and almost maintenance-free operation. The sensor is suitable for large area field H2S monitoring application.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with laser irradiation on?mid-infrared hydride stretch transitions: polystyrene

An investigation of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of a polymer (polystyrene) with laser irradiation in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral region is presented. A particular goal of this study is to determine whether the LIBS signals are enhanced when the laser wavelength is tuned to that of a vibrational transition of the polymer. Significant enhancements were indeed observed upon irradiation on the C–H stretch fundamental vibrational transitions. In addition, mode-specific effects were observed; the signals were stronger, compared to the relative intensities in the one-photon absorption spectrum, for irradiation on the aromatic (phenyl) C–H stretch transitions, rather than those involving aliphatic (backbone) C–H modes. The applicability of mid-IR resonance enhanced LIBS for detection of residues on surfaces is discussed.     

Techniques of laser spectroscopy in investigations of lanthanides’ free atoms and ions

Various experimental methods, used in Chair of Quantum Engineering and Metrology for determination of the hyperfine structure of electronic levels in lanthanides atoms and ions, are presented. In turn the spectroscopic methods on an atomic beam (laser induced fluorescence and laser-rf double resonance ABMR-LIRF), laser-rf double resonance in a Paul trap and spectroscopic methods in a hollow cathode discharge (optogalvanic detection and laser induced fluorescence) are presented. Each method has been characterized with its potential accuracy and domain of application. The results achieved for the atoms and the ions of lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium and europium have been published in numerous articles (compiled in the reference list).     

Energy transfer in chemical dimers of porphyrins and chlorins by the methods of selective laser spectroscopy at 1.8–10 K

The methods of selective laser spectroscopy applied at 1.8–10 K to a glass-forming tetrahydrofuran-toluene (3∶1) mixture have revealed that in the dimers of tetrapyrrole compounds (ethane-bis-octaethylporphyrins, ethane-bis-Zn-octaethylchlorins, heterodimers of Zn-cyclopentane porphyrins) the exciton interactions (V₁₂≈118 cm⁻¹) and S-S-transfer of energy (of probability F≈11 sec⁻¹) are implemented under conditions of substantial inhomogeneous broadening (δF_1/2≈50 cm⁻¹). Upon excitation of a donor component in the dimers, one observes a strong quenching of its emission, the disappearance of the fine structure in the fluorescence spectra, a decrease in the efficiency of spectral hole burning by, approximately, an order of magnitude, and a 12-fold increase in their halfwidth. To whom correspondence should be addressed. Reported at the VIIIth International Conference on Spectroscopy of Porphyrins and Their Analogs, Minsk, September 22–26, 1998. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 500–504, July–August, 1999.     

Temperature and current coefficients of lasing wavelength in tunable diode laser spectroscopy

The factors determining temperature and current coefficients of lasing wavelength are investigated and discussed under monitoring CO₂-gas absorption spectra. The diffusion rate of Joule heating at the active layer to the surrounding region is observed by monitoring the change in the junction voltage, which is a function of temperature and the wavelength (frequency) deviation under sinusoidal current modulation. Based on the experimental results, the time interval of monitoring the wavelength after changing the ambient temperature or injected current (scanning rate) has to be constant at least to eliminate the monitoring error induced by the deviation of lasing wavelength, though the temperature and current coefficients of lasing wavelength differ with the rate.     

Measurements of hyperfine structure and shift for atomic uranium by laser induced-fluorescence spectroscopy

The paper reports that the isotope shift between natural uranium isotope 235and 238 and the hyperfine sturcture width width of U~(235) were measured by means of laser-in-duced fluorescence spectroscopy.The A and B hyperfine structure splitting constants of U~(235)were also given for 14643 cm~(-1),15720 cm~(-1)and 15631 cm~(-1) levels.