Klaus D. A. Wendt

Multi Step Resonance Ionization – Frumpy Atomic Physics or up-to-date Quantum Optics

Multi step resonance ionization using narrow-bandwidth lasers is an outstanding tool for isobar suppression and isotope selection by numerous orders of magnitude. Apart of the analytics of ultra trace isotopes of relevance to environmental research, astrophysics, bio-medicine and radio-dating, the technique gives access to the study of high lying bound and unbound atomic levels and thus to the delicate quantum system of the atom near ionization. For understanding of level structures, peak shapes and excitation probabilities a proper quantum optical description involving populations, coherences and traps must be applied. The application of the density matrix theory to this task and the experimental verification are discussed as a prerequisite for the development of the techniques towards isotopic selectivity of 10¹³ and beyond. Ultra trace applications on ⁴¹Ca [1,2], ²³⁶U [3] and ⁹⁹Tc are discussed.

References:

[1] Determination of ionization potential of calcium by high-resolution resonance ionization spectroscopy, M. Miyabe et al. J. Phys. Soc. Japn. 75, 034302 (2006)

[2] Lineshapes in Triple-Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy, W. Nörtershäuser, et al. Appl. Optics 39, 5590-5600 (2000)

[3] Triple-resonance autoionization of uranium optimized for diode laser excitation B. A. Bushaw, et al., Spectrochimica Acta Part B 62, 485-491(2007)

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