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# Physics; Atomic  and Molecular Physics; Ultraviolet 'Ruler'

The new JILA ultraviolet "ruler" is made by exposing xenon gas atoms to a special type of infrared laser light called a femtosecond frequency "comb." The laser light is bounced back and forth between highly reflective mirrors to increase its intensity. The process causes the highly excited xenon to emit ultraviolet light pulses spaced identically to the original infrared comb. The new comb improves the precision of measurements at the shorter UV wavelengths, just as a faster shutter speed improves the ability of a camera to "see" shorter-lived events.

*PHY, JILA, Boulder, spectroscopy, astrophysics, frequency comb, femtosecond laser

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May 23, 2005

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