Potential of the Penning Ionization Gauge (PIG) Ion Source in Attaining High Energy Rydberg States

Abstract

Aims: The Morgan’s Lab, at Wesleyan University – Connecticut, experimentally probed the dynamics of an atom/molecule using Semi-Classical approach. The experimental setup at Morgan’s Lab is designed to generate a neutral atomic or molecular beam, which is then excited with a finely tuned laser to Rydberg states; the highest quantized energy states the electron can be in before ionization. Study Design: In this current study, the potential of the Penning Ionization Gauge (PIG) as an ion source was evaluated for the Hydrogen atom. Place and Duration of Study: Physics Department, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, USA, between June 2007 and August 2009. Methodology: The experimental setup is designed to generate a neutral atomic or molecular beam, which is then excited with a finely tuned laser to Rydberg states; the highest quantized energy states the electron can be in before ionization. The setup consists of an ion beam system consisting of a fast- metastable machine, vacuum pumping systems, an oven, a laser system consisting of a master YAG laser and a slave tunable dye laser, a second harmonic generator for doubling the frequency of the laser beam, Stark plate assembly, an ion detection system and a computer based data acquisition system with LABVIEW software. Results: The PIG found to populate the Hydrogen Rydberg states at 300% times more than the conventional ion source (8 µ Amp Vs. 2 µ Amp). Such high populations of ions lead to a high population of Rydberg states which in turn aided the overall experiment. Conclusion: A better understanding of the dynamics of an electron can aid experiments in condensed matter physics and molecular physics. Obtaining high population of Rydberg states can aid in increasing electron dynamic experiments by increasing the resolution of the scaled-energy absorption spectra. Penning Ionization Gauge (PIG) showed to have a better potential in producing high energy Rydberg states for the hydrogen gas.