Infrared radio frequency double resonance spectroscopy of CF3I in the 9.3-μm region

Infrared radio frequency double resonance effects have been recorded for CF₃I with the 9R(12), 9R(14), 9R(16), 9R(18), and 9R(20) laser lines of ¹²C¹⁶O₂ and with the 9P(12), 9P(14), and 9P(16) laser lines of ¹²C¹⁸O₂. The spectra were recorded at fixed infrared frequency as a function of radio frequency in the range 1–500 MHz. It was found that strong well-resolved spectra could be obtained with the sample cell outside the laser cavity. Of the 471 resonances recorded, 142 were assigned to pure nuclear quadrupole transitions in rotational levels of many vibrational states, 6 of which were identified. Quadrupole coupling constants and magnetic hyperfine parameters were obtained for these states.     

Line-dependent saturation in CO2 lasers

Line dependent saturation has been studied in a CO₂ waveguide laser, operating cw in 100 lines of the 9 m and 10 m bands. In both bands, for constant discharge conditions, the saturation intensity is found to be strictly inversely proportional to the small signal gain for lines in the range J=2 to J=48 in both the P and the R branches. For lasers operating well above threshold this implies an output power which is essentially independent of the line number. The effect is verified experimentally, and discussed theoretically.Supported by the Danish Science Research Council under grant no. 11-7777     

Line Shift Investigations for Different Isotopomers of Carbon Monoxide

Line shift coefficients for five lines of five different isotopomers in the fundamental band of CO in the spectral region near 2058 cm⁻¹were measured using a three channel lead salt diode laser spectrometer. The study includes the linesP(3) of¹³C¹⁷O,R(3) of¹³C¹⁸O,P(9) of¹²C¹⁸O,P(10) of¹³C¹⁶O, andP(21) of¹²C¹⁶O, and covers collisions with N₂, O₂, H₂, D₂, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. Line shifts of the isotopomers¹³C¹⁶O,¹²C¹⁸O,¹³C¹⁸O, and¹³C¹⁷O were determined for the first time. Within the experimental uncertainty no significant dependence of the shift effect on the isotopomer was found. TheR-branch line under study shows a smaller line shift coefficient than aP-branch line with a similar rotational quantum number. With increasing mass of the noble gas perturber the absolute size of the shift coefficient increases. Moreover self- and nitrogen-broadening coefficients for the isotopomer lines were determined. Compared to previous measurements no significant deviations between different isotopomers were observed.     

Multi-wavelength ytterbium doped fiber laser based on longitudinal mode interference

Multi-wavelength Ytterbium-doped fiber laser (YDFL) is demonstrated using a longitudinal mode interference assisted by a four-wave mixing (FWM) effect in a ring laser cavity. The gain medium is a 16 m long of the fabricated (Ytterbium-doped fiber) YDF, which has a core composition of 0.8 wt % of Yb₂O₃, 1.8 wt % of Al₂O₃ and 23 wt % of GeO₂, Ytterbium ion fluorescence lifetime of 1.1 ms and absorption of 9.0 dB/m at the pump wavelength of 976 nm. 20 m long photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is used to provide FWM effect so that the energy of different oscillating lines can be redistributed to improve multi-wavelength operation. The proposed laser generates 12 lines of optical comb with a line spacing of approximately 0.59 nm at 1035 nm region.     

IR and FIR spectroscopy of 13CD3OH around the 10P(22) and 10P(24) CO2 laser lines: New FIR laser emissions,frequency measurements and assignments

By using high resolution infrared Fourier transform data on ¹³CD₃OH and the 10P(22) and 10P(24) lines of a waveguide CO₂ laser to optically pump this methanol isotope, eight new FIR laser lines were observed. The frequencies of five laser lines were directly measured by heterodyne detection with already known laser lines. Particularly interesting are the lines pumped by the 10P(24) line, since a triade of emissions could be completely assigned.     

Infrared laser stark shift spectroscopy in ammonia

The Stark effect in ammonia has been theoretically and experimentally analyzed using lead salt tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and CO₂ laser absorption spectroscopy of several absorption lines around 1050 cm^–1 applied to an all-optical sensor for measuring of electric field strength. Measurements of the Stark splitting effect of theaR(5,K) ammonia lines forK=1–5 as well as for the sR(3,K) lines forK=0–3 have been made at Doppler broadening pressures and for several different electric field strengths. Theoretical electric field dependent energy levels have been evaluated by diagonalization of a 6×6 energy matrix constructed using both electric field independent and dependent terms. From the theoretical analysis the resolution can be predicted and optimized both in the Doppler broadened and in the pressure broadened regimes. The predicted resolution is 0.5% at an electric field strength of 20 kV/cm. The theoretical calculations and the experimental data recorded with the tunable diode laser system were compared with independent measurements made with a CO₂ laser system. The agreement between experimentally recorded and theoretically calculated spectra is good which indicates that the theoretical model is satisfactory for our purposes. The contribution from the normally forbidden ssR(5, 3) ammonia line to the absorption at theP(12) CO₂ laser line in the 9 m band is briefly discussed.     

Application of a CW helium neon laser for measurement of gaseous hydrogen fluoride concentration

The concentration of gaseous hydrogen fluoride in air can be measured by the use of a close coincidence between the 3P ₄–2s ₂ cascade cw helium neon laser line and the 1R5 hydrogen fluoride absorption line. A nearby cw HeNe laser line (3p ₂–2s ₂) is not absorbed by hydrogen fluoride and may be used to compensate for transmission losses in a long-path measurement system. Most of the HFv=0 tov=1 absorption lines lie in a region in which there is strong attenuation caused by atmospheric water vapour, but the 1R5 line is almost free of interference from H₂O, CO₂ or CO.     

Diode laser spectroscopy of the ν9 band of ethyl chloride

The vibration-rotation spectrum of the ν₉ band of C₂H₅Cl was recorded using a Nicolet 7199 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer; the Q-branch, R(5)-R(6) multiplets, and P(21)-P(22) multiplets were investigated using a tunable semiconductor diode laser spectrometer. Constants derived from these assignments are (cm^?1) ν₉ = 973.8379(2), A⁹ = 1.039516(3), B⁹ = 0.183081(7), C⁹ = 0.164505(8). The line which coincides with the CO₂ laser 10R(6), which has been employed in multiphoton dissociation studies, is tentatively assigned to the 20_{3 18}-21_{3 19} transition. In addition, a very strong coincidence of transitions 19_{9 11}-19_{9 10} and 19_{9 10}-19_{9 11} with the CO₂ 10R(16) line is found, which can provide a good candidate for laser chemistry and infrared double resonance spectroscopy.     

High power,high efficiency optically pumped NH3 lasers

A simple and efficient NH₃ laser was tuned over more than 70 vibrational band transitions between 10.08 and 14.14 m. The active medium was a dilute mixture of ammonia in argon and was optically pumped by the 9R(30) transition of a pulsed TEA-CO₂ laser. Output energies greater than 1 J per pulse were observed on several of the strongest lines. In a non-selective cavity an energy conversion efficiency of greater than 35% was obtained with a maximum output energy of 4.6J. Optically pumped NH₃ is shown to be a flexible and efficient system for the downconversion of CO₂ radiation.     

Communicating with hyperchaos: The dynamics of a DNLF emitter and recovery of transmitted information

The spectral distribution of laser radiation power generated in two (initial and final) regions of the flow of an active medium formed by a three-jet nozzle array of a supersonic cw chemical HF laser embodying the nozzle-nozzle-nozzle mixing scheme is investigated experimentally. It is demonstrated that the spectral lines can be selected by merely varying laser operating parameters, such as the feedback factor of the cavity, the orientation of the optical axis of the cavity with respect to the exit plane of the nozzle array, and the degree of secondary dilution of the active medium with helium. This method results in the selection of one line P _1?0 (6) with a power as high as 80% of the total radiation power and two lines P _1?0 (5) and P _1?0 (6) with a power of 100%.     

Control of spectral lines weakly absorbed by atmosphere in continuous wave chemical HF lasers

The behavior of two lines P _1-0(11) and P _2-1(8) weakly absorbed by the atmosphere is experimentally investigated in the spectra of cw chemical multikilowatt HF lasers of five types that differ in size and construction scheme of the nozzle array. It is shown that the intensity of these lines can be controlled within certain limits by varying the gas-dynamic regime of the laser operation, the chemical composition of the active medium, the orientation of the optical axis of the cavity and the cavity feedback factor, and the construction of the nozzle array.     

Effect of laser dye deterioration on performance

Loss of gain in a dye medium as a result of decomposition by pump photons is considered in terms of disappearance of dye molecules and the appearance of a new, single chemical product having absorption in the fluorescence band. The cases of small signal gain and saturated gain are applied to a single pass through a transversely excited amplifier. Loss of output, defined as “quantum yield of laser deterioration”,Q _L , is related to the true quantum yield of molecular destruction of the dye,Q _M , and other known parameters. For the experimentally common, saturated gain condition, the smallestQ _L can be isQ _M , which requires a photochemically bleachable dye with high gain, preferably at high concentration, in a long cavity, operating at high injection and pumping fluxes. Reversing these conditions, the highest valueQ _L can be, compared withQ _M , is unrestricted. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. Contract No. W 7405 Eng 48.     

Line strength measurements of the 2ν3 band of methane

The line strengths of the manifolds of the 2ν₃ band of methane have been measured for the P, Q and R branches up to J = 10 (J = 9 for the R branch). The results are based on curves of growth using the assignments given by three different groups of investigators. They indicate that intensities deviate from the conventional factor given by Fox.(⁸) The deviation is descrived in terms of an empirical Herman-Wallis factor.     

Narrowing and Broadening Parameters for H2O Lines in the ν2 Band Perturbed by Nitrogen from Fourier Transform and Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy

Collision effects on water vapor line profiles perturbed by nitrogen at room temperature have been studied by Fourier transform and tunable diode laser spectroscopy. Narrowing effect due to molecular confinement (Dicke effect) has been observed for P and Q branch lines of the ν₂ band of H₂O with Fourier transform spectrometer. Narrowing and broadening parameters have been determined using the soft and hard collision models. A more precise study on three R-branch lines with a frequency stabilized diode laser spectrometer allows to perform the comparison between the two collision models at low pressure and to analyze the different narrowing effects when the pressure increases taking into account the molecular confinement and the absorber speed dependent effects.     

Discovery and characterization of optically pumped far-infrared laser emissions using laser magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A laser magnetic resonance spectrometer has been used to discover and subsequently measure a far-infrared laser emission: the 166.6-micron line of CH₂F₂, optically pumped by the 9P24 CO₂ laser. By recording spectra for the NH radical, the frequency of this laser emission has been determined to be 1799950±13 MHz. Spectra for the NH radical were also recorded with two other far-infrared laser emissions: the 160.4-micron line of N₂H₄ (9P46 CO₂ pump) and the 328.6-micron line of ¹³CH₃OH (9P12 CO₂ pump). From the NH spectra, a discrepancy of 2.1 GHz with the previously measured laser frequency was identified for the 160.4-micron line. A three-laser heterodyne system was then used to remeasure the frequency to be 1868475.5±0.5 MHz. The NH spectra were also used to determine the frequency for the 328.6-micron line to be 912366±7 MHz, in agreement with the value previously calculated from the Rydberg–Ritz combination principle. PACS 07.57.Hm; 32.60.+i; 42.62.Eh     

Efficient laser isotope separation of 13C using novel linear multi-pass cavity

¹³C isotope has been separated in the form of enriched product C₂F₄ by selective multi-photon dissociation (MPD) of Freon-22 (CHClF₂) using the 9P(26) laser line of a transversely excited atmospheric CO₂ laser. The non-linearity factor, γ, that determines the dependence of the yield of ¹³C isotope on the fluence (J/cm²) has been determined for various laser rotational lines (9P(20)–9P(26)) and the advantage of a lower γ in the case of 9P(26) is highlighted for macroscopic production of ¹³C isotope. It is also shown that a higher value of the optimum fluence at 9P(26) not only results in a higher enrichment efficiency but in a relatively lower value of γ also. The laser pulse energy is efficiently utilized for selective MPD of Freon-22 by focusing the pulse energy repeatedly with the help of a novel linear multi-pass cavity (LMPC). The novelty of this optical arrangement lies in its ability to maintain the laser fluence around an optimum value for a desired enrichment of ¹³C in the product. This also ensures a higher quantity of enriched product because of the higher reaction volume. The advantage of the LMPC over the conventionally used Herriott multi-pass cell has also been presented. The gain in reaction volume in the present optical cavity having 20 passes with a constant fluence in each pass is as high as 12. Isotope-selective MPD of Freon in a LMPC with constant fluence in each pass showed a distinct advantage in energy utilization to separate ¹³C isotope over the gradually reducing fluence case.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Self-broadening, self-shift and self-mixing in the ν2, 2ν2 and ν4 bands of NH3

Using Fourier-transform spectra (Bruker IFS 120 HR, resolution ≈0.004 cm⁻¹) of NH₃ in nine branches of the ν₂, 2ν₂ and ν₄ bands, self-broadening and self-shift as well as self-mixing coefficients have been determined at room temperature (T=295 K) for more than 350 rovibrational lines located in the spectral range 1000–1800 cm⁻¹. A non-linear least-squares multispectrum fitting procedure, including line mixing effects, has been used to retrieve successively the line parameters from 11 experimental spectra recorded at different pressures of pure NH₃. The accuracies of self-broadening coefficients are estimated to be better than 2% for most lines. The mean accuracies of line-mixing and line-shift data are estimated to be about 15% and 25%, respectively. The results are compared with previous measurements and with values calculated using a semiclassical model based upon the Robert–Bonamy formalism that reproduces rather well the systematic experimental J and K quantum number dependencies of the self-broadening coefficients.The results concerning line mixing demonstrate a large amount of coupling between the symmetric and asymmetric components of inversion doublets mainly in the ν₄ band. The line mixing parameters are both positive and negative. More than two thirds of the lines studied here have a positive shift coefficient. However, for most of them the shift coefficients are negative in the 2ν₂ band. They are positive for the R branch of the ν₂ band and for the ^PR and ^RP branches of the ν₄ band. For the other branches they are both positive and negative. Some components of inversion doublets illustrate a correlation between line mixing and shift phenomena demonstrated by a quadratic pressure dependence of line position.     

Cavity ring-down technique for measurement of reflectivity of high reflectivity mirrors with high accuracy

A simple, accurate and reliable method for measuring the reflectivity of lasergrade mirrors (R > 99.5%) based on cavity ring-down (CRD) technique has been successfully demonstrated in our laboratory using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. A fast photomultiplier tube with an oscilloscope was used to detect and analyse the CRD signal. The cavity decay times were measured for three cavities formed by a combination of three mirror pairs. The absolute reflectivities R ₁, R ₂, R ₃ were determined to be 99.94%, 99.63%, 99.52% at normal incidence. The reflectivity of mirrors is measured to an accuracy of 0.01%.     

One watt,far infrared CH3OH laser

Peak powers near 1 watt have been observed on the CH₃OH laser line at 570.5 μm as well as on each of three new CH₃OH laser lines produced by pumping a far infrared guided wave cavity with a 0.5 MW helical CO₂-TEA laser. The new lines have wavelengths of 58.1, 65.1 and 451.9 μm. For all four lines the optimum CH₃OH pressure was between 2.3 and 3 torr, and laser action at 65.1 μm persisted up to a pressure in excess of 9 torr.     

Laser investigations at 269 nm for XeF(D-X) in Ne crystals

From line narrowing in amplified spontaneous emission at the D-X transition (269nm) of XeF in solid Ne a gain coefficient of 3.4 cm^–1 has been derived and ground-state losses of 2.8 cm^–1 have been determined by variation of the absorption length. A dielectric laser cavity has been optimized with the reflectivities R₁=100% and R₂=70% for 1 cm long crystals; laser action has been achieved.