Generation of polarized ion beam by optical pumping using circularly and linearly polarized radiation tuned to line (He metastables )

It is demonstrated that simultaneous optical pumping (OP) by circularly and linearly polarized 1083 nm radiation tuned to the D 0 line (He metastables 2 3 S 1 → 2 3 P 0 transition) substantially improves the polarization of the He + ion beam, compared with conventional OP by the circularly polarized D 1 ( 2 3 S 1 → 2 3 P 1 ) or D 2 ( 2 3 S 1 → 2 3 P 2 ) line.