Detection of ground state carbon C(3P) via two photon laser induced fluorescence

Pulsed laser irradiation of graphite surfaces is known to eject a wide range of carbon species from atoms to large clusters. In this work, carbon atoms are generated by free ablation of a graphite rod using the focused third harmonic output of a Nd:YAG laser. C(3P) is detected by two photon laser induced fluorescence at 280 nm using the 3 3PJ' left-arrow 2 3PJdouble-prime transition; good resolution of the individual J double-prime states is achieved. This demonstrates the use of laser ablation of graphite as an efficient, clean source of ground state carbon atoms. Analysis of the spectral lineshapes obtained can yield temperature and velocity information, allowing further characterization of the atomic beam