Stark broadening of the cesium 52D5/2 → 102F line shape

Abstract

Pump modulated laser absorption spectroscopy was used to measure the cesium 52D5/2→102F5/2,7/2 line shape. Alkali density in an optically pumped low pressure cell was increased from 0.5 to 85×1012cm−3, resulting in a factor of 200 increase in Lorentzian width due to Stark broadening (2.76GHz/1012cm−3). The observed red shift is consistent with literature, and the shift-to-width ratio δ/γ=−0.356±0.015 informs an electron temperature of 1820±100K. A linear trend between alkali density and electron density is seen, suggesting that electron impact is the primary plasma production mechanism. A maximum ionized concentration of 28% was observed.