The two-photon excitation of cesium to high-n Rydberg levels through resonant dissociative states of the dimer is investigated over the wavelength range 6000-5900A. Highly vibrationally excited $\sp1\Sigma\sb{\rm g}\sp+$ ground state molecules are excited to the continuum of $\sp1\Pi\sb{\rm u}$ bound states which dissociate to give 5D atoms. The 5D atoms are subsequently photoexcited to high-n Rydberg states which are detected by selective field ionization techniques. Series corresponding to both (5D $\to$ nF) and (5D $\to$ nP) transitions with components up to n = 150 were observed. The photoexcitation process appears to be very efficient and produces copious quantities of Cs Rydberg atoms.

New insights into many physical phenomena can be obtained through spin dependent analysis and such investigations frequently require an electron spin polarimeter. In the past available polarimeters have been bulky and required very high voltages (100 kV or more) in order to operate. In recent years more portable models which operate in the 20 kV range have been constructed with efficiencies (figures of merit) of $3\times 10\sp{-5}$. A very compact UHV compatible retarding potential Mott polarimeter is described here that provides the highest efficiencies yet achieved with an instrument of this type. With a thorium target and electron accelerating voltage of 25 kV, it provides effective Sherman functions $\rm S\sb{eff}$ between $-$0.15 and $-$0.25. The resulting figures of merit are as high as $\approx1.6\times 10\sp{-4}$ which make the device attractive for use in any application requiring electron spin polarimetry.

A commercial Spectra Diode Laboratories, 1.083 $\mu$m diode laser has been used to efficiently spin polarize an atomic beam of He(2$\sp3$S) metastable atoms by optical pumping on the $\rm 2\sp3S\sb1\rightarrow2\sp3P\sb1$ (D1) transition. The diode laser is an InGaAs/GaAs strained multiquantum well with a distributed Bragg reflector to insure single longitudinal mode operation. The laser has been frequency stabilized to less than 1 MHz/hr drift. The helium metastable atom beam is produced by electron impact and the polarization is measured using a Stern-Gerlach analyzer. Atomic polarizations exceeding 97% have been obtained with $\sim$25 mW of power from the diode laser. A number of experiments currently under construction may also make use of the diode laser. These include the production of a spin polarized helium ion beam by optically pumping the metastable atoms in an rf discharge, and the trapping of helium metastable atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT).

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