Grating feedback in a 810 nm broad-area diode laser

Narrow linewidth, single spectral mode operation has been obtained in a high power, 810 nm broad-area diode laser in an extended cavity configuration with a grating as external reflector (grating feedback). For stable operation it was necessary to misalign the feedback slightly in the plane of the laser junction. Characteristics of the thus obtained laser system are a linewidth below 5 MHz, an output intensity of about 50% of the free running power, a large-scale tuning range of 15 nm and continuous scanning over 4 GHz. In the spatial domain, the laser remains multimode and astigmatic. To show the practical applicability of this system, saturated absorption of a krypton line is demonstrated.     

Studies on the valence electronic structure of Fe and Ni in Fe x Ni1−x alloys

K _β-to-K _α X-ray intensity ratios of Fe and Ni in pure metals and in Fe _x Ni_1−x alloys (x=0.20, 0.50, 0.58) exhibiting similar crystalline structure have been measured following excitation by 59.54 keV γ-rays from a ²⁴¹Am point source, to understand as to why the properties of permalloy Fe_0.2Ni_0.8 is distinct from other alloy compositions. It is observed that the valence electronic structure of Fe_0.2Ni_0.8 alloy is totally different from other alloys which may be attributed to its special magnetic properties.     

Lifetimes of the Ne 2p fine structure states by measurements of linewidths of the laser induced flourescence of an atomic beam

The laser induced fluorescence signal of a crossed atomic beam-photon beam is used to measure the natural lifetimes of six of the 2p fine structure states of Ne I. The excitation profiles are analysed with a model function consisting of an unbroadened lorentzian lineshape with the full-width at half-maximum Δν (natural lineshape) as a free parameter, which is then fully convoluted with the experimental conditions as Doppler effect, Zeeman splitting and saturation. The broadening due to these effects is typically 3 MHz. To avoid strong correlations of the value of Δν with an incorrect shape of the model function, we only use the datapoints that are most sensitive to Δν, i.e. at the maximum and at half height. The resulting lifetimes lie all within the 1 σ error bound (5%) from other experimental results. Our results add as independent set of data to these well investigated lifetimes.     

An intense, slow and cold beam of metastable Ne(3s) 3 P 2 atoms

We employ laser cooling to intensify and cool an atomic beam of metastable Ne(3 s) atoms. Using several collimators, a slower and a compressor we achieve a ²⁰Ne^* flux of 6×10 ¹⁰ atoms/s in an 0.7 mm diameter beam traveling at 100 m/s, and having longitudinal and transverse temperatures of 25 mK and 300μK, respectively. This constitutes the highest flux in a concentrated beam achieved to date with metastable rare gas atoms. We characterize the action of the various cooling stages in terms of their influence on the flux, diameter and divergence of the atomic beam. The brightness and brilliance achieved are 2.1 ×10 ²¹ s^-1m^-2sr^-1 and 5.0 ×10 ²² s^-1m^-2sr^-1, respectively, comparable to the highest values reported for alkali-metal beams. Bright beams of the ²¹Ne and ²²Ne isotopes have also been created. Received 22 June 2001     

IMPROVEMENT OF FLUIDIZABILITY OF FINE POWDERS ——A COMPUTER STUDY

Simulations of the gas fluidization of a cohesive powder were performed using the Stokesian Dynamics method and an agglomeration-deagglomeration model to investigate methods of improving the fluidizability of fine powders. Three techniques (a) high gas velocity (b) vibration-assisted fluidization and (c) tapered fluidizer were used in the simulations which provided detailed information on the bed microscopy such as the motion of 1 O0 particles in a fluidizing vessel along with the formation and destruction of cohesive bonds dudng collisions. While all three techniques were found to effectively improve the fluidizability of a strongly cohesive powder, we suggest a combination of high velocity fluidization assisted by extemal vibration of the fluidized bed to minimize entrainment of particles.