Mystery of the 609.6nm line

Via combined math efforts between Dr. Sam and I, we have narrowed the wavelength of our myster line to around 608.8741nm. Not considering the angle at which the image was shot, and the angled spread of the spectrum coming out of the grating. I order for a totally unbiased mathematical conclusion, we would need to conduct this experiment a second time with the spectrum hitting the subject wall or equally flat surface, perpendicularly. Also, minimal light pollution is required for easily finding the center of the spot where light density is max.

Repeat test will be carried out on Friday (30AUG13) when the tube is back in my hands. Measuring via spectrometer will be no sooner than 14 days.

I got the following by measuring pixels in photoshop (I then took my final average and averaged it with Sam's number to get the above figure). Sam's number, using different math, was 609.05nm. Either way, both figures far away from the speculate 609.6nm. So it's back to the drawing board folks!

594.1 -> 604.6
738.54

604.6 -> 609
316.35

609 -> 611.9
205.69

TOTAL
17.8nm
1260.58

594.1 -> 604.6:
---------------
738.54/1260.58 = 0.5859
"" * 17.8 = 10.4285
"" + 594.1 = 604.5285



604.6 -> 609:
-------------
316.35/1260.58 = 0.2510
"" * 17.8 = 4.4670
"" + 604.6 = 609.0670



594.1 -> 609:
-------------
(738.54+316.35)/1260.58 = 0.8368
"" * 17.8 = 14.8956
"" + 594.1 = 608.9956



611.9 -> 609:
-----------
205.69/1260.58 = 0.1632
"" * 17.8 = 2.9044
611.9 - "" = 608.9956



AVG : 608.8741nm


Spectral lines close to our figures:
Xe I = 609.338
Xe II = 609.350
N II = 608.654
Ar I = 609.0785 (!!!)
Ne I = 609.616
O IV = 609.253

We're almost to the bottom of this!

Verity monochrometer is in! I've got the wiring scheme all set up (it's pretty crazy). The tape is to keep things semi clean, and to keep my brain from overloading.

Currently waiting on the PSU. I ordered 2nd day shipping, which puts it at Monday latest. Hoping for Saturday to do some weekend work.

Once the PSU is in, just gotta hook up the +/-15VDC and GND, then we're off.

Not quite sure how to calibrate it, so further guidance will come later. Probably tomorrow morning.

Anyway, once it is calibrated, shouldn't take long, I will meter the output of the REO. The raw output before a grating, and I will tune through. This is being done because the 609nm line isn't the only line in question here. We also need to narrow down the yellow line(s) to which which, if not both, are lasing.

Lots to do!

Check out this wiring! Consider it a teaser, ha.

I've got 6 wires coming from the main port. +15VDC, -15VDC, GND, HVC, HVM, and SIG.

The first two are power, the ground, then high voltage check, high voltage monitor, and signal.

+15VDC is split into two wires, and GND has a 2 way splitter halfway down it (so 3 leads total).

I've got the meter with a +/- as well, and a pot with a +, GND, and a lead going to the wiper of the pot.

This all more or less runs through a 6 terminal switch.

Wiring is as follows!

GND (1) SIG (2)
Meter - (3) Meter + (4)
HVM (5) GND (6)

This is so that I can flip the switch to either monitor the HV going to the PCM, so I know how sensitive it is. Then when I'm done with that, I flip it back to regular reading, and the meter is then used for checking for wavelength saturation.

So then for the pot:
+ goes to a 47K Ohm resistor, then +15V
GND to GND
Wiper to HVC

This is so I can turn the pot to allow more power to the PCM, and I can also monitor it through the meter.

Then for the PSU I just use the +/- 15V, and the GND.

Pretty crazy right? It's Sam's evil setup, not mine. Though it makes a lot of sense. Wiring this up got me a lot more familiar with electronics. This whole thing is just a bundle of parts really. He purposely left just enough unfinished so that it'd require some decent though to construct.

That was probably just because he had better things to do...

Either way, we're almost there!

When I grow up, I want to know as much about gas lasers as you, Bloom!

You are the man.

Great info and thread... and it makes me want to LEARN!
c

I'm fairly certain you are older than me given your profile picture. I'm 19

Though thank you, means a lot to read that

I just do what I love

Unbelievable that this is the same member posting 2-3 years ago

We're proud of our Bloomie! This trooper just keeps on keepin' on! :wave:

Also, is always fun going about solving a mystery!

Haha, it is fun trying to figure this out and doing all this footwork. Though there's always the caveat of not being able to prove anything unless I have a way to actually test it.

Delivery scheduled for Monday, however it says there's only one business day left. Got 2nd day air. Does UPS still operate on Saturday? It's only 5hr away. I think the 1 day left may be because it's a day early from the Monday schedule.

Or has UPS never worked weekends, and I've just gone far too long without sleep..

4 more hours...

Its most likely a neutral neon spectral line. I sent Sam the probable identification weeks ago. Its not listed in the NIST tables, but is referenced in papers. Ask him to forward you the email.



Steve

Ne has a spectral line at 609.6nm listed on the NIST, and listed in Gas Lasers on pg.501. There are also the other two radiative decay lines mentioned there. 594.4nm and 667.8nm.

Feel free to email me at any time, I'll message you my email. I need more contacts for these sorts of developments and conversations ... and friends.

If you email me, I'll definitely keep you in the loops. As well as post it here.

You have a PM to get to on PL, mister

The main two theories are just that it's lasing because it wants to and it's somehow stable and the planets are aligned. The other is that it's from Ar contaminant causing the 594.4nm to lase, and also the 609.6nm as a side-effect, explaining the competition, etc, etc.

Lots of theorizing but it's not worth retyping. You know.

Looks like our initial thought of it being a Neon line is probably correct.

Check out the full details in my multimedia thread, including a picture of my setup, here.

Any questions directed towards any party involved in this can be posted here, and I would love to talk for days about it with you

Very happy to finally have a "closed case" here.

One last follow-up test to blow the others out of the water.

Should be our last bit of proof for one line or the other, since the last was a tad bit shady.

Will post pics when I'm done.

I learned something, as always. Gas lasers are so interesting...

Glad I could learn ya something!

These really are wonderful to own

Starting my next doctorate project soon. Won't be perfect, but if I can at least get a nice pass red polarized beamsplitter with 99% pass, then we're in business.

Going to try something out tonight running the extended cavity through a couple bounce mirrors. We'll see how it goes

bloompyle said:

if I can at least get a nice pass red polarized beamsplitter with 99% pass, then we're in business.

Click to expand...

a bit on the small side, but 5.25" DVD/CD combo drives might have a nice PBS that someone like Ming might assume would perform ok in the red region.

I have some that have been stored in sub-optimal conditions (rolled up in a piece of plastic wrap and thrown in a box with some junk) that you are free to try if you can't source any in your parts bin

I will try one out on a tube tonight.

I don't have my Pockel cell in, but if I can start assembling everything now, less time spent last minute.

I ran across this which lists not only a 609 line but also a 607, thought Id share.
You may have already seen it, but if not, boy are there a lot of line possible in HeNe lasers

Or maybe it's not what I think it is?

But in any case.

http://www.skywise711.com/lasers/files/HeNeSpectra.jpg