Resonant optical absorption spectroscopy of Ce

Resonant optical absorption of ground state Ce atoms is demonstrated. Ce I resonant emission line at 461.05 nm (A(ij) = 28 x 10(8) s(-1)) corresponding to the transition 4f5d6s(2)-4f(2)((1)G)5d (I-2)6s is utilized. In a magnetron sputtering discharge used as an atomic source, the absolute densities of atomic ground state Ce sputtered in pure Ar and in Ar-O-2 (oxidized magnetron cathode) gas mixtures are found to be nearly 2 x 10(8) cm(-3) (pure Ar) and 1 x 10(7) cm(-3) (Ar + O-2). The phenomena inherent in reactive sputtering, such as the non-oxidized-oxidized regime transition and the hysteresis of the transition point, are detected. The obtained data are compared with the existing results of a similar absorption analysis performed in the Ti dc magnetron discharges. The discrepancies in the obtained Ce and Ti absolute ground state densities are analysed.