CROSS SECTION FOR PHOTOIONIZATION OF EXCITED CESIUM ATOMS.
Abstract
The objective of the present program is to determine the cross section for photoionization of excited cesium atoms. The highlight of the experiment is to use a thermally tunable gallium-arsenide laser to generate a high concentration of atoms in the first excited state, and then to ionize the excited atoms by means of radiation from a monochromator. The cross section for this process is about 100 times larger than that for photoionization of ground-state cesium atoms, and for this reasion the corresponding non-equilibrium rates are significant in thermionic energy converters and MHD generators. During the first contract period most of the apparatus that will be used in the experiment was constructed and tested. This includes an ultra-high vacuum system, atomic beam oven and detector and optical radiation sources and detectors. Special emphasis has been put on the properties of the gallium-arsenide lasers. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0703628
Entities
People
- Kaare J. Nygaard
- Robert E. Hebner Jr.
Organizations
- Missouri University of Science and Technology