Detection of atomic hydrogen and deuterium by resonant three-photon ionization
Abstract
Resonantly enhanced three-photon ionization spectroscopy is employed for the detection of ground-state atomic hydrogen and deuterium. Concentrations as low as 4×109 atoms/cm3 in the presence of 1017 atoms/cm3 of buffer gas are detected with an implicit time resolution of less than 10 nsec. A useful dynamic range of at least 4×104 is demonstrated and saturation of the ionization in a 2×10-4-cm3 focal volume is observed. The presence of H can easily be distinguished from that of D and the three-dimensional spatial distribution of H or D can be determined.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- July 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.90163
- Bibcode:
- 1978ApPhL..33...54B
- Keywords:
-
- Deuterium;
- Gas Ionization;
- Hydrogen Atoms;
- Laser Applications;
- Optical Resonance;
- Photons;
- Absorption Cross Sections;
- Energy Levels;
- Ground State;
- Optical Emission Spectroscopy;
- Resonant Frequencies;
- Yag Lasers;
- Atomic and Molecular Physics;
- 35.10.Bg;
- 32.80.Kf;
- 33.80.Kn