Abstract.
For laser collimation of neutral F atoms, a resonance transition cycle between the metastable and the upper excited states (3s4 P 5/2?3p4 D 0 7/2) can be used as a two-level closed system. We have determined the lifetime of the metastable state (3s4 P 5/2) in F atoms by measuring the decay curve of the fluorescence intensity as a function of distance from the plasma source. Combining the measured velocity of F radicals from the Doppler shift of the fluorescence peak, we have obtained the lifetime of the F metastable state as 3.7±0.5 μs. With this short metastable lifetime of F radicals, the simple Doppler cooling method using spontaneous light force is not practical for laser collimation of F radicals. Use of stimulated light force may be necessary to collimate F radical beams in a short distance.
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Received: 4 July 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000
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Shimizu, M., Yasutake, K., Ohmi, H. et al. Lifetime of metastable fluorine atoms . Appl Phys B 72, 227–230 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003400000418
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003400000418