Sodium atom distribution within a heat sandwich oven

Abstract

In a heat sandwich oven the metal vapor is confined to be disk shaped and is optically accessible through 360° in the plane of the disk. We have used this feature to optically measure the radial atom density distribution of sodium vapor within this type of oven, under a range of conditions. In particular, we have observed the formation of a donut-shaped atom density distribution when the heat sandwich oven is operated at high temperatures with an under pressure of the argon buffer gas.