The optimum pumping power for optically pumped FIR lasers

The relations between the output power of optically pumped FIR laser and the pumping power were studied theoretically by solving the density matrix equation of four-level system by means of the matrix signal flow graph method. The output power density of FIR laser was calculated by iteration method. A set of curves of output FIR power density against pumping power has been obtained. It has found that every of each curve has a maximum point of which the position is different for different pumping detuning. According the these results we predicted that there would exist an optimum pumping power density for an optically pumped FIR laser with certain pumping detuning. This theoretical results would help us to design the optically pumped FIR lasers.     

Diffusion of excited state molecules in FIR- and CO2-lasers

Both standing waves in laser oscillators and spatially inhomogenous cross sections of laser beam and pumprate cause a non-uniform distribution of excited state molecules in longitudinal and transversal direction, respectively. This spatial hole burning however is smoothed by diffusion of the excited molecules. The effect of diffusion is investigated theoretically for an optically pumped far infrared laser as well as the corresponding CO₂ pump laser. It is found, that the remaining spatial hole burning in the direction of wave propagation is negligible within CO₂ lasers but not within FIR lasers. Concerning the transversal direction it can be shown that in the FIR laser diffusion takes no effect, whereas the transversal distribution of the excited molecules in the CO₂ laser is significantly influenced by diffusion.FIR ring lasers avoid longitudinal spatial hole burning, which leads to the common assumption that they use the active medium more efficient than conventional standing wave lasers, hence delivering higher output powers. This expected advantage is levelled out to a great extent by diffusion.     

Torsional refilling transitions in tea-pumped CH3OH fir lasers with associated high-resolution fir spectra

It is proposed that a number of the high-frequency far-infrared (FIR) laser lines observed when CH₃OH is optically pumped by high-power CO₂ TEA lasers can be identified as refilling torsional transitions within the vibrational ground state. Assignments are presented for 8 such TEA-pump/FIR-laser refilling systems. To provide support for the assigned laser frequencies, high-resolution Fourier transform FIR spectra of CH₃OH have been obtained and partially analyzed in the torsional transition region.     

Application of the opto-acoustic effect to the operation of optically pumped far-infrared gas lasers

A method is reported which allows the operation of optically pumped farinfrared (FIR) gas lasers in a simple way: A spectrophone is used to control and to stabilize the pump laser frequency in order to achieve most efficient optical pumping of the FIR laser gas.     

光泵NH3分子远红外激光研究

运用量子系统的密度矩阵理论，采用迭代法计算了光泵ＮＨ３分子远红外超辐射和腔式激光的频谱特性和相应的最佳工作气压。理论计算表明相对于超辐射方式，光泵腔式ＮＨ３分子远红外激光具有宽带辐射以及纵向调谐特性，且总的输出光强在一定条件下得到提高，最佳工作气压也较低。在实验上对ＴＥＡＣＯ２－１０Ｒ（８）和９Ｒ（１６）泵浦的Ｎ 红外超辐射和腔式激光器产生的远红外辐射进行了测量。结果表明理论计算与实验结果相符。     

Frequencies of cw FIR laser lines from optically pumped CH2F2

The frequencies of 48 optically pumped cw FIR CH₂F₂ laser lines have been measured relative to stabilized CO₂ lasers. Uncertainties are estimated to be about 5 parts in 10⁷.     

The tuning characteristics of optically pumped fir cavity laser

Based on the quantum mechanics theory of density matrix and the principle of multiple-beam interference, the tuning characteristics of optically pumped NH₃ FIR lasers were studied. A series of metallic mesh Fabry-Perot cavity lasers with sample tubes of 10cm, 20cm and 100cm in length were constructed and operated successfully, and the FIR laser spectra of the NH₃ cavity lasers pumped by a TEA-CO₂ laser were measured. Supported by the Natural Sciences Foundation of Guangdong Province, PRC     

Spectra of optically pumped superradiant and cavity NH3 far-infrared laser

Based on the density matrix theory of quantum system, the spectra of optically pumped superradiant and cavity NH₃ far-infrared (FIR) lasers were calculated by means of iteration method. The calculation showed that, compared with the optically pumped superradiant FIR laser, the cavity laser had a wider band spectrum of FIR emission and a higher output power under certain condition, moreover, the spectra of cavity laser had multi longitudinal-mode structure. Supported by the Research Foundation of Hubei Province Education Committee, PRC     

The energy exchange and the optimum length of the sample tube of opfirl

The energy exchange between the pumping laser and FIR signal in the optically pumped FIR laser (OPFIRL) system was studied. The iteration method has been used to calculate the power density of the pumping and FIR signals at any point along the optical axis of the sample tube. It was found that the power density of the FIR signal did not always increase along the length of the laser tube. There was a maximum FIR power density at the appropriate point in the sample tube. If the distance of maximum power point from the entrance of the OPFIRL tube was taken as the length of sample tube Z_opt, the maximum FIR laser output should be obtained. This was the optimum length of OPFIRL tube. The value of Z_opt was closely related to the parameter of OPFIRL such as the pumping power density, the pumping detuning and the frequency of the FIR laser. The energy-exchange and the maximum output of the fir laser were calculated under the ideal condition.     

Infrared Optoacoustic Spectroscopy of CHD2OH Around 10R and 10P CO2 Laser Lines

In this work we present results of an investigation on Doppler limited infrared absorbing transitions of CHD₂OH by optoacoustic detection. It is an alternative and attractive technique to be applied to this methanol isotopomer, in comparison to Fourier transform spectroscopy. Using a waveguide CO₂ laser of 290 MHz tunability on each line, we were able to observe 60 IR absorptions, most of them of large offset. The data will be useful in the theoretical analysis of this molecule, as well as in the generation of far-infrared (FIR) laser radiation in optically pumped molecular lasers.     

Photon recyclers

We present a radical approach for improving the efficiency of optically pumped NMMW lasers in which the Manley-Rowe limit is transcended by recycling pump photons. The resulting new class of lasers, called photon recyclers, can be described as heat engines in which heat is converted into coherent NMMW radiation using pump photons as a catalyst. Practical implementation of the proposed schemes by combining features of optically pumped NMMW lasers and gas dynamic expansion is discussed. Such systems may yield high power c.w. NMMW output.Work supported by U.S. Army Research Office, Durham, NC.     

Emission spectra of the tunable Raman CH3F optically pumped fir laser

The six-level model using a density matrix approach to simulate properties of a gas resorant media in optically pumped FIR lasers was developed. The model accounts for multiphoton as well as parametric processes. Advantages of the developed model are demonstrated by calculation and discussion of the gain and saturated emission spectra of CH₃F laser when transitions with different J rotational numbers of CH₃F are pumped.     

Theoretical study of multi-mode optically pumped NH3 FIR laser

The two or multi-mode optically pumped NH₃ FIR laser had been studied theoretically. The NH₃ molecular gas was assumed to be a three-level system and obeyed the time-dependent behavior of the density matrix equations. Considering the situation of playing the two or multi-mode optical pumping and the FIR laser field were same polarized. The gain coefficient and the output FIR power of the system could be calculated by using the iteration method.It had been predicted that the two or multiple longitudinal mode optically pumped NH₃ FIR laser could have a greater output power or higher lasing efficiency than single mode pumped FIR laser under suitable selected operating parameters of laser.Supported by The Education Foundation of PRC.     

Laser induced line narrowing and saturation broadening effects in OPFIRL

The variation of the laser linewidth within an optically pumped NH3 FIR laser has been studied theoretically on the basis of three-level quantum system approach. It has been shown that the activated medium within the sample tube of an optically pumped ASE FIR laser can be divided into three regions: A). Laser induced line narrowing region, in which the FIR laser linewidth is less than Lorentz linewidth; B). Saturation broadening region, in which the power density of the FIR. signal becomes large enough to make saturation effect important and the linewidth broadens; C), Self-absorption narrowing region, in which the pumping energy density is below the threshold, so self-absorption dominates and the linewidth decreases. The necessary linewidth of the OPFIRL can be obtained by appropriate selection of the length of the sample tube.     

用于定向红外对抗的中波红外激光器技术

针对定向红外对抗系统对中波红外激光器在激光波段、激光功率、激光束散角、激光重复频率以及调制波形等方面的具体要求,通过对光泵半导体激光器、量子级联激光器和基于光学参量振荡的固体以及光纤激光器的技术特点与发展现状的分析比较,和对双折射相位匹配与准相位匹配的特点和最新发展动态的梳理,提出用高功率高光束质量的1 064 nm固体激光器或光纤激光器泵浦基于掺氧化镁的周期极化铌酸锂晶体（PPMgLN）的光学参量振荡器的中波红外激光器方案,其波段转换效率可达到16%以上。     

Optically pumped cw CH2DOH fir laser: New lines and frequency measurements

We have measured the output powers and relative polarizations of 66 cw FIR laser lines from CH₂DOH (including 50 not previously reported), which were optically pumped by a CO₂ laser. The frequencies of 43 of these lines were measured relative to stabilized CO₂ lasers.     

New FIR laser lines and frequency measurements for optically pumped CD3OH

Twenty new cw FIR laser lines in CD₃OH, optically pumped by a CO₂ laser, are reported. The frequencies of 39 of the stronger laser lines were measured relative to stabilized CO₂ lasers with a fractional uncertainty, as determined by the reproducibility of the FIR frequency itself, of 2 parts in 10⁷.Contribution of the U.S. Government, not subject to copyright.     

Feasibility study of optically pumped molecular lasers with small quantum defect

An analytical analysis of continuous wave (CW) optically pumped molecular lasers with small quantum defect is presented. The results show the conditions under which lasing with small Stokes shifts are possible. The general results are applied to HCN as an example gas. The predictions from the analytical approach are in good quantitative agreement with numerical calculations. The effective vibrational lifetimes and rotational relaxation rates of the molecule determine the principal behavior of such lasers. High overall laser efficiencies are possible for long interaction length of pump laser and gas media, which for example can be achieved in waveguide structures. This makes such lasers potentially interesting for coherently combining the output of mutually incoherent fiber and or diode lasers.     

Far-infrared detection by GaAs-IREDs and GaAs0.6P0.4-LEDs

In GaAs-IREDs and GaAs_0.6P_0.4-LEDs a photoconductive and a bolometric FIR response has been observed at low temperatures by applying different pulsed optically pumped FIR lasers. The short circuit current responsivity peaks at =400 m being about 1.5 mA/W. By monitoring the rapid modulation of the FIR radiation due to mode beating of the pump laser, an upper limit of 1 ns was established to the time constant of the photoconductive signal.     

Room temperature CW lasing operation of monolithically grown 1.55 μm vertical external cavity surface emitting laser

We report room temperature (20 °C) continuous-wave operation of 1.55 μm vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The optically pumped monolithic InP-based structure, grown by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition, includes a InP/InGaAsP Bragg reflector, and an active region with strain compensated quantum wells. Output power up to 4 mW is obtained at 0 °C. The thermal impedance of the structure is deduced from the experimental data.