Continuous-wave source of highly excited atoms using Doppler-tuned ir laser radiation

Abstract

A 10‐keV atomic beam source of hydrogen atoms in the n=44 or other selected state was based upon charge exchange production of the n=10 state followed by Doppler‐tuned cw CO₂ laser excitation to the desired highly excited state. In present operation the output atom flux of the source is 2.5×10⁵ sec⁻¹, a value that can be increased by as much as 10⁵. The technique can be extended to considerably higher and lower atom energies, to a wide range of atom quantum numbers, and to atoms other than hydrogen.