ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF A STARK SPECTROMETER

Presenter Information

Nick Saucedo

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC 202

Start Date

17-5-2012

End Date

17-5-2012

Abstract

With the discovery of the optically pumped far-infrared laser in 1970, over 5,000 far-infrared laser emissions have since been detected. The accurate measurement of their frequencies allows these lasers to serve as known, coherent, and stable sources of far-infrared radiation that are used in a variety of applications. At Central Washington University, we have constructed a Stark spectrometer to use with an optically pumped molecular laser for the investigation of stable molecules. The Stark spectrometer consists of two silvered glass plates with dimensions 7.62 cm by 15.24 cm and separated by 1 mm using quarter spacers. Electric fields up to 9,000 V/cm are used with the Stark spectrometer. To assess its performance, we have used a series RLC circuit to determine if there is any variation of the capacitance, and hence the electric field, as voltage is applied to the plates. This presentation will focus on discussing the experimental system and how the RLC circuit was used to assess the Stark spectrometer.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Michael Jackson, Michael Braunstein

Additional Mentoring Department

Physics

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May 17th, 3:40 PM May 17th, 4:00 PM

ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF A STARK SPECTROMETER

SURC 202

With the discovery of the optically pumped far-infrared laser in 1970, over 5,000 far-infrared laser emissions have since been detected. The accurate measurement of their frequencies allows these lasers to serve as known, coherent, and stable sources of far-infrared radiation that are used in a variety of applications. At Central Washington University, we have constructed a Stark spectrometer to use with an optically pumped molecular laser for the investigation of stable molecules. The Stark spectrometer consists of two silvered glass plates with dimensions 7.62 cm by 15.24 cm and separated by 1 mm using quarter spacers. Electric fields up to 9,000 V/cm are used with the Stark spectrometer. To assess its performance, we have used a series RLC circuit to determine if there is any variation of the capacitance, and hence the electric field, as voltage is applied to the plates. This presentation will focus on discussing the experimental system and how the RLC circuit was used to assess the Stark spectrometer.