Abstract

Mg atoms open possibility to build up an atom-optical interferometer[1-4] with special separation of its arms. Life time of upper level of the intercombination transition ¹S₀ -> ³P₁ equal to 5 ms allow to obtain special separation up to 0.2 mm. To realize an atom-optical interferometer with magnesium atoms and to detect interferometric fringes with highest resolution one have to build up a laser source at 457 nm with linewidth <10 Hz and with long term frequency stability better than Δν/ν =10^-14. We discuss the possibility of an external magnesium cell and saturation resonance at ¹S₀ -> ³P₁ transition for long term frequency stabilization of Ti:Al₂O₃/LBO laser system at 457 nm. Spatial separation of matter wave packets in interferometer arms will be possible with Mg24 atoms cooled down 10 m/s. The laser system at 285 nm based on ring R6G cw dye laser with internal BBO nonlinear crystal has been developed for laser cooling of an atomic beam. The results of high resolution spectroscopy of magnesium beam at 285 nm and 457 nm are presented. The isotopic structure of Mg transitions ¹S₀ -> ³P₁ and ¹S₀ -> ¹P₁ have been resolved as well as the hfs of Mg25 transition ¹S₀ -> ³P₁. We also present the results of numerical simulation experiment of a broad band cooling of Mg beam.

© 1998 IEEE