Laser Doppler spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen in the photodissociation of HI

Laser induced fluorescence Doppler spectroscopy has been applied for the first time to atomic hydrogen using tunable VUV light at the Lyman-α line. The dissociation of HI at 266 nm into H+I(P _1/2) and H+I(P _3/2) has been investigated. The recoil energy, angular distribution and branching ratio of the H atom have been measured, serving to test and study the feasibility and applicability of the technique.