Hansjürg Schmutz & Joseph Agner
ETH Zürich
Tuesday, April 29, 11h – ISMO Amphitheater
We would like to outline our approach to solving a technical problem in the electronics and mechanics workshop of the IMPS at ETH Zurich. As an example, we have chosen the generation and characterization of short gas pulses, which our research colleagues from Professor Frédéric Merkt’s group need in order to investigate fundamental properties of atoms and molecules in Rydberg states. We start with a first-generation coil-driven valve, develop it into a solenoid valve and add a discharge circuit to generate metastables and radicals. We show details in the mechanical construction as well as in the design of the control electronics. In order to characterize the gas pulses, we have developed a fast ionization gauge and its control electronics. Here, too, we provide some technical insight.