A Versatile Hollow Cathode Discharge Tube for Si Spectroscopy*

A simple stainless steel hollow cathode discharge tube has been constructed and utilized for the generation of silicon atoms, allowing for observation of Si spectra down to the deep UV range. The cathode plates may be easily replaced, allowing the user freedom to choose many different atomic sources. The discharge may be utilized for Doppler-free saturated-absorption spectroscopy and optogalvanic spectroscopy in the deep UV, to determine the hyperfine structure of Si29. This will be important for the laser cooling and trapping of Si, which is the first step towards making a Si quantum computer.