Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Laser and Accelerator Based Studies of Ions, Atoms and Simple Molecules for the Better Understanding of Astrophysical Spectra R.L. Brooks

Accelerator based Studies Cryogenic films of astrophysical interest, such as CO, carbon monoxide, can be irradiated with a 3 MV proton accelerator and the reaction products studied spectroscopically. Cryogenic films of astrophysical interest, such as CO, carbon monoxide, can be irradiated with a 3 MV proton accelerator and the reaction products studied spectroscopically.

Two different spectrometers, one a grating instrument and one an FTIR, can be used to study absorption and emission from the UV to the near IR and everything in- between. Two different spectrometers, one a grating instrument and one an FTIR, can be used to study absorption and emission from the UV to the near IR and everything in- between.

Gas mixtures are sprayed onto a sapphire substrate held at 5 K. The thin film of frozen material is irradiated with protons and studied spectroscopically. Gas mixtures are sprayed onto a sapphire substrate held at 5 K. The thin film of frozen material is irradiated with protons and studied spectroscopically.

Cavity ring-down Spectroscopy One extremely sensitive, and fairly new spectroscopic tool is CRDS, a way to measure faint absorption in gases by measuring the lifetime of the laser light that escapes from a high finesse cavity. One extremely sensitive, and fairly new spectroscopic tool is CRDS, a way to measure faint absorption in gases by measuring the lifetime of the laser light that escapes from a high finesse cavity.

A newer application of CRDS is to measure absorption in a discharge in which the absorbing level is electronically excited. The interesting and novel feature is that transitions never before observed can be studied. A newer application of CRDS is to measure absorption in a discharge in which the absorbing level is electronically excited. The interesting and novel feature is that transitions never before observed can be studied.

The three transitions labelled with arrows in atomic helium have been studied in our laboratory. Two of them have never before been observed and a measure of the transition probability for the singlet-triplet transition has been obtained. The three transitions labelled with arrows in atomic helium have been studied in our laboratory. Two of them have never before been observed and a measure of the transition probability for the singlet-triplet transition has been obtained.

Rare earth doped Laser Crystals Studies of Nd 3+ doped YLF have been undertaken using femto-second lasers at McMaster Univer- sity. Pump-probe experiments of the excited state manifold are ongoing. Studies of Nd 3+ doped YLF have been undertaken using femto-second lasers at McMaster Univer- sity. Pump-probe experiments of the excited state manifold are ongoing.

Block diagram of the lasers being used and a schematic of the pump-probe setup.

Canadian Light Source

Future opportunities for work at the ultra high resolution, far infrared beam line at the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon should become available. The CLS is a multi-beam line synchrotron with one beam line specifically designed for far infrared work. One of the highest resolution FTIR spectrometers in the world will be associated with this beam line to perform studies on molecules of astrophysical interest. Future opportunities for work at the ultra high resolution, far infrared beam line at the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon should become available. The CLS is a multi-beam line synchrotron with one beam line specifically designed for far infrared work. One of the highest resolution FTIR spectrometers in the world will be associated with this beam line to perform studies on molecules of astrophysical interest.