Selective removal of either metastable species from a mixed 3<i>P</i>0,2 rare-gas metastable beam

Abstract

A tunable cw laser has been used to selectively remove either of the two metastable species, 3P0,2, which are initially present in a neon metastable beam. The method is applicable to other rare gases and provides the opportunity for separate investigation of effects due to atoms in either the 3P0 or 3P2 state.