4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
▲ [9p-M103-12] A direct diode pumped continuous wave Ti:Sapphire laser seeding a pulsed amplifier for high resolution Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy
Keywords:Resonance ionization, laser spectroscopy, Ti:sapphire
Laser spectroscopy and ionization are well established tools for the analysis or production of radioactive ion beams. However, to best suit the needs of specific applications, new or modified laser systems are required. Amplification of a narrow-band seed source in an injection-locked Ti:Sapphire amplifier results in high intensity pulses, combined with a spectral linewidth below 20 MHz, providing good resolution for hyperfine spectroscopy or isotope shift measurements of various nuclei. This in turn yields important nuclear parameters such as magnetic/electric nuclear moments, as well as changes in mean-square charge radii. Furthermore, high resolution spectroscopy allows for higher ionization selectivity and thus the possibility of trace analysis and nuclear beam purification. Seed lasers such as external cavity diode lasers are limited by tuning range and output power. The recent availability of high-performance green-blue diode lasers promises to replace the traditional expensive cw Nd:YAG laser technology for pumping Ti:Sapphire laser. This opens the opportunity to develop a cw-Ti:sapphire laser at a significantly lower price point. A prototype system has been set up, using two diodes at 465 nm and 520 nm. The diode beam profile was investigated, and a tuning range of 730-880 nm of the Ti:Sapphire bow-tie ring resonator was achieved using a birefringent filter and etalon combination. Single-mode emission was confirmed using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. Frequency stabilization and mode-hop free scanning capability are currently still in development.