High‐resolution spectroscopy of atoms and molecules

MAY 01, 1977

New laser techniques, pulsed and continuous, which make it possible to see optical spectra without Doppler broadening, to label energy levels, and to enhance sensitivity, are now opening new applications.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3037544

Theodor W. Hänsch

Lasers are rejuvenating, even revolutionizing, the field of spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. Compared with the light of conventional sources, laser light is more—sometimes dramatically more—powerful, directional, spectrally pure and coherent. Laser light can be generated in extremely short pulses. Furthermore, tunable lasers can operate at wavelengths at which intense conventional sources such as spectral lamps simply have not been available. Lasers thus can enormously enhance the sensitivity and application range of classical spectroscopic methods, such as absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.

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More about the Authors

Theodor W. Hänsch. Stanford University, Stanford, California.