Date of Award

2010

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Physics

Keywords

Physics, Atomic.

Supervisor

McConkey, J. W. (Physics)

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

An electron optical system which propagates an electron beam coaxially with a laser was designed, developed and tested. Greatly improved signal rates were obtained when excitation of various target species under electron impact was studied. Measurements of excitation in nitrogen, specifically the (0,0) second positive band of N2 and (0,1) first negative band of N2 are made and compared with well-known previous results to calibrate the system. Emission cross section measurements were made by direct excitation of a number of argon transitions, including the 3p5 4p [1 1/2] (J=1) -> 3p5 4s [1/2] (J=0) transition. Comparison with previous results showed remarkable agreement in both shape and threshold values. A first attempt to study excitation of an optically allowed level in argon using Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) was made using the 3p5 4p [1 1/2] (J=1) -> 3p5 4s [1/2] (J=1) transition.

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