Abstract

The extension of free electron laser (FEL) output to vacuum UV wavelengths will make possible a range of new studies which would be impractical to attempt using existing light sources. Many of these will be based upon photoionization of gasous atoms and molecules since the VUV wavelength may be easily tuned to match autoionization resonances and will greatly enhance the selective ionization of a particular species. In addition to the evident advantages offered by this capability, the temporal characteristics of the laser offer great potential in the analysis of process dynamics.

© 1988 Optical Society of America