Triple-Resonance Autoionization of Uranium Optimized for Diode Laser Excitation

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2007.04.015· OSTI ID:919695

Bushaw, Bruce A; Raeder, Sebastian; Ziegler, Summer L; Wendt, Klaus

The photoionization of uranium via three-step excitation has been optimized for isotope selective trace analysis. A search found 13 new J = 6, 7, and 8 odd-parity states in the 36850-37200 cm^-1 region that allow blue-red-red three-photon excitation at wavelengths favorable for commercial diode laser systems. From each of these 13 states, near threshold autoionization spectra were recorded at a resolution of 3 x 10^-4 cm^-1. Some 30 even-parity autoionizing levels with J = 5 to 9 have also been observed and characterized. Comparison of the spectra allows J assignment for the new intermediate levels as well as selection of an optimized path for trace analysis. We show that, for a chosen scheme using a narrow J = 9 autoionizing resonance at 49972 cm^-1, all of the excitation steps can be saturated with powers available from single-mode cw diode laser systems when exciting an atomic beam in perpendicular geometry.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 919695
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-53755; KC0302020
• Journal Information: Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy, Journal Name: Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 62; ISSN 0584-8547
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Autoionization
Diode lasers
Laser spectroscopy
Uranium