Generation of pure ion beams by field ionization of laser-excited Rydberg atoms

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.341809· OSTI ID:7023381

Oomori, T; Ono, K; Murai, Y

Sodium atoms (10/sup 8/--10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/) effused from an oven were stepwise excited from their ground state to a Rydberg state ns or nd (20less than or equal tonless than or equal to26) by two pulsed dye lasers (approx.5--10 ns, approx.100 ..mu..J, approx.1.6-mm-diam spot). The laser energy density necessary to saturate the excitation processes from the ground state to the Rydberg state is approx. several mJ/cm/sup 2/. About 50 ns after the laser irradiation, a pulsed electric field (0.5--5.5 kV/cm) was applied to the Rydberg atoms to ionize them and accelerate the resulting ions. Thus, a pulsed sodium ion beam of purity >99.99% was obtained with a maximum total electric charge of approx.5 pC and a pulse width of approx.120 ns full width at half maximum. The total electric charge of the ion beam is estimated including the effect of space-charge field of the beam ions, and is in good agreement with the experimental values.

• Research Organization: Central Research Laboratory, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tsukaguchi-Honmachi, Amagasaki 661, Japan
• OSTI ID: 7023381
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 64:4; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640301* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
BEAM PRODUCTION
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
DYE LASERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FABRICATION
ION SOURCES
IONIZATION
IONS
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
LIQUID LASERS
METALS
PHOTON COLLISIONS
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
RADIATIONS
RYDBERG STATES
SODIUM
SODIUM IONS