Resonance ionization diode-laser spectroscopy of neutral atomic beam produced by pulsed-ablation charge exchange

The lithium ion beam was neutralized in a newly developed charge-exchange c ell. The charge exchange was performed with sodium, lithium and iron vapors . The lithium atom was photoionized in a three-step resonance-ionization sc heme where the first-step excitation was performed with a cw external-cavit y diode laser. The resonance ionization with a diode laser and a pulsed dye laser was as efficient as that with two high-power pulsed dye lasers.