Laser photoselective ionization of atoms

Abstract In this and subsequent chapters, we consider are other laser methods for controlling atoms and molecules that, in contrast to all the methods discussed above in Chapters 2–8, are destructive. They result in the ionization of the atoms or molecules being controlled and the dissociation and fragmentation of molecules. All these methods are united by the capability of the particles to be ionized or dissociated in a photo selective manner, which makes it possible to detect and separate atoms or molecules of certain species. They are based on the fact that all the structural details of atoms and molecules manifest themselves in their spectra, for example, some details manifest in the spectra of atoms are the atomic weight (the number of nucleons), the number of protons (the nuclear charge and the type of element), the number of neutrons (the isotopic state), and even the excitation energy of the nucleus (the isomeric composition). This enables one to excite, and, in some cases, ionize atoms and molecules in a photo selective way and thus accomplish their photo selective excitation and separation. Figure 9.1 lists all types of photo selectivity. All of them have been successfully realized by the method of resonance multistep ionization of atoms that is considered in the present chapter. Our primary attention here is concentrated on the realization of laser control of the photo selectivity of ionization. A detailed description of this method can be found in the monographs by Letokhov (1987) and Hurst and Payne (1988).