Optically enhanced production of metastable xenon

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel method combining electrical discharges and optical pumping to significantly increase metastable xenon atom density, potentially benefiting applications requiring high metastable state densities.

Contribution

It introduces an optically enhanced technique for producing metastable xenon by combining electrical discharge with optical pumping, showing significant density increases.

Findings

Large increases in Xe* density with small optical control powers

Potential applications in systems needing high metastable densities

Combines electrical and optical methods effectively

Abstract

Metastable states of noble gas atoms are typically produced by electrical discharge techniques or "all-optical" excitation methods. Here we combine electrical discharges with optical pumping to demonstrate "optically enhanced" production of metastable xenon (Xe*). We experimentally measure large increases in Xe* density with relatively small optical control field powers. This technique may have applications in systems where large metastable state densities are desirable.