Maximizing optical production of metastable xenon

TL;DR

This paper explores a hybrid method combining RF discharge and optical pumping to efficiently produce high densities of metastable xenon atoms, optimizing conditions for enhanced long-term stability.

Contribution

It introduces and experimentally validates a hybrid approach for generating large metastable xenon populations, improving upon existing methods.

Findings

Optimal pressure conditions for population transfer identified

Maximum metastable density achieved with specific RF and optical parameters

Robust platform established for long-term metastable xenon production

Abstract

The wide range of applications using metastable noble gas atoms has led to a number of different approaches for producing large metastable state densities. Here we investigate a recently proposed hybrid approach that combines RF discharge techniques with optical pumping from an auxiliary state in xenon. We study the effect of xenon pressure on establishing initial population in both the auxiliary state and metastable state via the RF discharge, and the role of the optical pumping beam power in transferring population between the states. We find experimental conditions that maximize the effects, and provide a robust platform for producing relatively large long-term metastable state densities.