NARROW-BAND RESONANCE-IONIZATION AND FLUORESCENCE IMAGING IN A MERCURY-VAPOR CELL

Characteristics of a novel type of ultranarrow-band image detector hav e been experimentally studied. The principle of this neu imaging appro ach is to detect a resonance-ionization and (or) fluorescence-imaging signal formed on a thin planar cell filled with atomic vapor, A planar vapor cell with a thickness of 1.6 mm was used for imaging 253.7-nm r adiation by Hg atoms. One-and two-dimensional images were produced and detected with ionization and fluorescence-signal acquisition. The fea sibility of atomic-vapor image detectors with a spectral resolution of several megahertz is discussed. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.