Abstract

A selective laser ionization photodetector (SLIP) is proposed and demonstrated. The SLIP uses an atomic-gas target as a detection element, instead of the photoelectric surface in photomultiplier tubes. The atomic gas resonantly absorbs the signal radiation to be detected and then is selectively photoionized by an intense laser beam. As a result, it can be expected that the SLIP will provide high quantum efficiency in a limited detection bandwidth. An analysis is made, and an initial-stage experiment on the SLIP is described.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

Saturation of three-photon ionization of atomic hydrogen and deuterium at 243 nm

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