Inversion of the resonance line of Sr^+ produced by optically pumping Sr atoms

Abstract

We report inversion and lasing on the optically pumped resonance line of Sr+. A mode-locked frequency-doubled dye laser was tuned to excite the dipole-allowed two-electron transition, 5s2 1S0–4d5p3P10, in Sr vapor. The same laser then ionized the excited atoms, selectively producing ions in the Sr+ 5p2P3/20 excited level. The inversion density with respect to the Sr+ ground level was approximately 1013 cm−3.