Vol. 21, issue 11, article # 13

Abstract:

The asymmetry of optical excitation of a copper atom resonance doublet in mixtures of copper vapor with inert gases has been investigated. The effect of laser excitation at λ = 327.4 nm resonant to the long-wave component of the doublet of a copper atom 4²S_1/2-4²P⁰_,4/2 has been found to be accompanied by changes in populations of the both doublet sublevels, while the laser excitation at λ = 324.8 nm resonant to the another doublet component 4²S_1/2-4²P⁰_,3/2, is accompanied by changes in population of only one sublevel. It is assumed that the effect is caused by the asymmetry of optical excitation functions of doublet components 4²S_1/2-4²P⁰_,1/2,3/2 in the presence of atom–atom collisions.

Keywords:

optical pumping, copper vapor laser, atomic collisions, atomic fluorescence