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Alkali metal vapors - Laser spectroscopy and applicationsThe paper examines the rapidly expanding use of lasers for spectroscopic studies of alkali metal vapors. Since the alkali metals (lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium) are theoretically simple ('visible hydrogen'), readily ionized, and strongly interacting with laser light, they represent ideal systems for quantitative understanding of microscopic interconversion mechanisms between photon (e.g., solar or laser), chemical, electrical and thermal energy. The possible implications of such understanding for a wide variety of practical applications (sodium lamps, thermionic converters, magnetohydrodynamic devices, new lasers, 'lithium waterfall' inertial confinement fusion reactors, etc.) are also discussed.
Document ID
19800036776
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stwalley, W. C.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Koch, M. E.
(Iowa, University Iowa City, Iowa, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Optical Engineering
Volume: 19
Subject Category
Inorganic And Physical Chemistry
Accession Number
80A20946
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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