Light Sources for the Excitation of Atomic Resonance Fluorescence in Potassium and Rubidium*

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Abstract
A description is given of radio frequency light sources which produce potassium and rubidium resonance radiation of high intensity. The properties of the spectral lamps have been systematically investigated in relation to their operating parameters. The rf lamps emit resonance lines of much higher peak intensities, smaller halfwidths and smaller degrees of self-reversal than do commercially available lamps. Typical halfwidths of the resonance lines of potassium and rubidium produced by the rf sources were found to be 0.15 cm−1 and 0.37 cm−1, respectively, compared with the corresponding widths of 0.34 cm−1 and 1.5 cm−1, respectively, emitted by Osram spectral lamps operated at low currents.
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