A build-up cavity for Fourier transform emission experiments

We have recorded electronic spectra of some diatomic species (I₂, K₂, and NaK), to illustrate the potential power of the combination of two high resolution techniques: intra-cavity laser induced fluorescence (ICLIF) and Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy. Active and passive optical cavities have been used, working with visible continuous wave (cw) laser sources. The active cavity is a modified commercial ring dye laser, allowing for a sample up to 25 cm in length. Dispersed fluorescence spectra recorded on a Bomem Fourier transform spectrometer showed a signal enhancement of about 10 when a molecular source was placed within the resonator. The system was tested with a heatpipe source, producing alkali metal vapour at about 300 °C. These experiments illustrate enhanced cascade excitation mechanisms in K₂; the highest vibrational levels of the electronic ground state of K₂ can be observed with surprising ease. The increase in available power within the cavity has also led to the observation of fluorescence in NaK excited by a two-photon transition (Q (66) 6¹Σ⁺ ← X¹Σ⁺ transition). Spatial limitations have driven us to build a more versatile ring cavity able to accommodate larger sources. This broad-band (590-650 nm) build-up cavity is locked by a Hänsch-Couillaud servo-loop to an input laser of (instantaneous) bandwidth ∼1 MHz. Power enhancement factors of around 30 have been obtained with a 2.6% input coupler. The performance of the build-up cavity has been tested by recording FT spectra of intra-cavity laser induced fluorescence of iodine. The technique clearly has useful applications for weakly absorbing species, or for those whose electronic states are inaccessible to single-photon absorption techniques. This paper describes the arrangement we have used, highlighting some of the advantages and describing some of the particular difficulties we have encountered.