Two level metal vapor lasers with thermal creation of population inversion

We present a new technique for direct conversion of thermal energy into coherent radiation. The near-surface layer of evaporated excited atoms of rare earth metals is proposed to be used as a converter. There is an inverted population in this layer. Operation principles of two level lasers on the transitions to the ground state using Eu are considered. The fact of detachment of Sm atoms in the excited 4f(N-1)5d6s2 state during the thermal evaporation process has been proved experimentally.     

Electrical transport and magnetic ordering in R 2Ti3Ge4 (R=Dy, Ho and Er) compounds

New R ₂Ti₃Ge₄ (R=Dy, Ho and Er) intermetallic compounds have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and low temperature ac magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power measurements were carried out. The compounds crystallize in the parent, Sm₅Ge₄-type orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma) and lanthanide contraction is observed as one moves along the rare-earth series. The changeover from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase happens at low temperatures and the ordering temperature scales with the de Gennes factor. The electrical resistivity is metallic with a negative curvature above 100 K. Thermopower displays a weak maximum at temperatures less than 50 K signifying the possible phonon and magnon drag effects.     

Temperature range and conditions of stable operation of gas-discharge rare-earth metal vapor lasers

We have experimentally studied the temperature range and conditions of the stable operation of rare-earth metal (REM) vapor lasers. Gas-discharge tubes made of alumina (Al₂O₃-GDTs) were used in the experiments. The lasing appears at the temperature when the saturated-vapor pressure of REMs reaches the value of 0.1 Torr and abruptly drops at the melting temperature of corresponding REM under any excitation conditions. The necessity of protecting film of REM aluminates Ln_nAl_mO_k and oxides Ln₂O₃ on the inner surface of Al₂O₃-GDT for stable operation of these lasers is shown. An explanation of lasing impossibility in vapors of cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), gadolinium (Gd), and terbium (Tb) under gas-discharge excitation is proposed. PACS  42.55.Lt; 34.10.+x     

Elastic properties of the Ta–V system: bcc Ta0.33V0.67 and C15 TaV2

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy was used to measure the elastic constants of bcc Ta_0.33V_0.67 over the temperature range 3.5–300?K; the results were compared to earlier measurements on C15 TaV₂. The temperature dependence of the polycrystalline shear modulus is completely different in the two phases; that of the bcc phase decreases with temperature whereas that of the C15 phases increases in an anomalous fashion. This difference is consistent with a model involving doubly-degenerate levels at the X point of the Brillouin zone in the C15 phase with the Fermi level lying near the doubly degenerate level. This model accounted for the unusual behaviour of the C15 phase. Debye temperatures were determined from the ultrasonic measurements: 295?K for the C15 phase and 315?K for the bcc phase.