Abstract

The construction and operation of a simple atomic beam source employing natural mercury is described. Lines of great sharpness are obtained when the emitting beam is viewed perpendicularly to the direction of the flight of the atoms. The Hg¹⁹⁸ component of the line 2537 A is isolated from the other components by proper selection of the interferometer spacer so that it can be compared with the same line of the Hg¹⁹⁸ Meggers lamp. This comparison shows that the atomic beam line is much sharper and that it is feasible to construct an atomic beam lamp employing a single even isotope of mercury.

© 1958 Optical Society of America

Sealed-Off Hg¹⁹⁸ Atomic-Beam Light Source

R. L. Barger and K. G. Kessler
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(7) 651-656 (1960)

Kr⁸⁶ and Atomic-Beam-Emitted Hg¹⁹⁸ Wavelengths

R. L. Barger and K. G. Kessler
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 51(8) 827-829 (1961)

Interference at Great Retardations Obtained with a Calcium Atomic Beam Source*

K. W. Meissner and V. Kaufman
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 49(5) 434-438 (1959)

Preliminary Measurements of Some Wavelengths of Krypton 86 and Mercury 198 Lines

K. M. Baird and D. S. Smith
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48(5) 300-301 (1958)

Interferometric Measurements of Isotope Shifts in Mercury II and Mercury III with Enriched Isotopes*

R. W. Shorthill and G. R. Fowles
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48(7) 459-460 (1958)