Pump requirements for betatron-generated femtosecond X-ray laser at saturation from inner-shell transitions

We study pump requirements to produce femtosecond X-ray laser pulses at saturation from inner-shell transitions in the amplified spontaneous emission regime. Since laser-based betatron radiation is considered as the pumping source, we first study the impact of the driving laser power on its intensity. Then we investigate the amplification behavior of the K-α transition of nitrogen at 3.2?nm (395?eV) from radiative transfer calculations coupled with kinetics modeling of the ion population densities. We show that the saturation regime may be experimentally achieved by using PW-class laser-accelerated electron bunches. Finally, we show that this X-ray laser scheme can be extended to heavier atoms and we calculate pump requirements to reach saturation at 1.5?nm (849?eV) from the K-α transition of neon.     

Compact all-solid-state continuous-wave single-frequency UV source with frequency stabilization for laser cooling of Be<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions

A compact setup for generation, frequency stabilization, and precision tuning of UV laser radiation at 313 nm was developed. The source is based on frequency quintupling of a C-band telecom laser at 1565 nm, amplified in a fiber amplifier. The maximum output power of the source at 313 nm is 100 mW. An additional feature of the source is the high-power output at the fundamental and the intermediate second- and third-harmonic wavelengths. The source was tested by demonstration of laser cooling of Be⁺ ions in an ion-trap apparatus. The output of the source at the third-harmonic wavelength (522 nm) was used for stabilization of the laser frequency to molecular iodine transitions. Sub-Doppler spectroscopy and frequency measurements of hyperfine transitions in molecular iodine were carried out in the range relevant for the Be⁺ laser cooling application.     

Ground-state depleted solid-state lasers: principles,characteristics and scaling

A novel class of rare-earth-doped solid-state lasers is described. The ground-state depleted laser is pumped by an intense (more than tens of kW cm⁻²) narrow-band (less than a few nm) laser source and is characterized by: (1) an unusually low laser ion doping density (5 to 10×10¹⁸ion cm⁻³), (2) an unusually large fractional excited population inversion density (4 to 8×10¹⁸ ion cm⁻³, or >75%), (3) a gain element that is optically thick at the pump wavelength and (4) a gain element that has a substantially uniform gain distribution due to a bleaching of the pump transition at the pump intensity utilized. These features enable efficient room-temperature operation of rare-earth-ion laser transitions terminating on the ground manifold. The relationships between laser parameters (cross-sections, saturation fluences and fluxes, bleaching wave velocities, etc.) are given and laser performance scaling relationships are presented and discussed.

     

Ground-state depleted solid-state lasers: principles, characteristics and scaling

A novel class of rare-earth-doped solid-state lasers is described. The ground-state depleted laser is pumped by an intense (more than tens of kW cm^–2) narrow-band (less than a few nm) laser source and is characterized by: (1) an unusually low laser ion doping density (5 to 10×10¹⁸ion cm^–3), (2) an unusually large fractional excited population inversion density (4 to 8×10¹⁸ ion cm^–3, or >75%), (3) a gain element that is optically thick at the pump wavelength and (4) a gain element that has a substantially uniform gain distribution due to a bleaching of the pump transition at the pump intensity utilized. These features enable efficient room-temperature operation of rare-earth-ion laser transitions terminating on the ground manifold. The relationships between laser parameters (cross-sections, saturation fluences and fluxes, bleaching wave velocities, etc.) are given and laser performance scaling relationships are presented and discussed.     

Competition between green and infrared emission in Er:YLiF4 upconversion lasers

The competition between two laser transitions in Er:YLiF₄ (⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2 at 551 nm and ⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_13/2 at 850 nm) is studied using a model based on rate equations. The laser emission is pumped by upconversion at 795 nm; for comparison, we also discuss upconversion pumping by another mechanism, at 970 nm. The conditions that favor laser emission in various regimes on these two transitions are found.     

Infrared microwave sideband laser spectroscopy of the ν3 and 2ν3 ← ν3 bands of 13CH3F

A large number of transitions in the ν₃ and 2ν₃ ← ν₃ bands of ¹³CH₃F have been recorded at Doppler-limited resolution by means of an infrared laser microwave sideband spectrometer. The sidebands were generated in a CdTe crystal that was simultaneously irradiated by a CO₂ infrared laser and a high-power microwave source operating in the 8- to 18-GHz region. The J and K structures of the bands were well resolved except for the lowest K values. Frequencies of transitions involving J values up to 47 and K values up to 16 are reported. Vibration-rotation parameters for the v₃ = 0, 1, and 2 states were obtained by fitting to the experimental frequencies. These parameters reproduce the experimental values with an rms deviation of 3.8 MHz for the fundamental band and 2.5 MHz for the hot band.     

Changes in nuclear mean square charge radii of stable Krypton isotopes

The isotope shifts of stable even Kr isotopes (A=78 throughA=86) in the optical transitions at 432 nm and 557 nm were measured by means of polarization laser spectroscopy. The observed shifts are consistent with earlier results for other transitions. From the isotope shifts the changes in the nuclear mean square charge radiiδ〈r ²〉 were inferred using preliminary muonic isotope shift data. Starting from⁷⁸Kr, a monotonic decrease of 〈r ²〉 with increasing mass number is found throughout theg _9/2 neutron shell. The effect onδ〈r ²〉 of nuclear deformations as well as possible contributions due to changes in the skin thickness of the nuclear charge distribution are discussed.     

Space- and time-resolved investigation of gain lines in Na-like copper

We report space- and time-resolved measurements of the gain coefficient for four gain lines in sodium-like copper. The lines investigated include the twon = 1 transitions 5g–4f and 5f–4d at 11.1 nm and 10.3nm and the twon = 2 transitions 6g–4f and 6f–4d at 7.2 nm, and 6.9 nm. The investigations were carried out for four irradiation intensities from 4 × 10¹² W/cm² to 3 × 10¹³ W/cm² using the Asterix IV high-power iodine laser at Garching (wavelength 1.315 µm, pulse duration 450 ps).The main results may be summarized as follows: On varying the laser intensity it was found that the highest values of the gain could be seen at an irradiation of 8 × 10¹² W/cm². For then = 1 lines the spatial maximum of the gain occurred at a distance of 300 µm from the target, and for then = 2 lines at 200 µm. The temporal gain maximum occurred at a time of 1.8 ns after the pulse maximum. The gain values range up to 2.6 cm^–1.Dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Shi-shen Chen, who contributed to the early phase of this work     

Multiplasmon laser gain in low-dimensional systems

The light absorption and laser gain in quantum wells are calculated using the cumulant expansion method and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem with allowance made for the strong Coulomb interaction of charge carriers. It is shown that the multiplasmon transitions result in a smoothening of the absorption spectrum and a shift in the absorption edge toward the long-wavelength range. The theoretical laser gain spectra are in agreement with the available experimental data. For In_0.05Ga_0.95As quantum wells, the laser gain g = 50 cm^?1 is reached at an electron density nd₀ = 1.64 × 10¹² cm^?2.     

CW laser oscillation on transitions of Tl+ in a hollow-cathode Ne-Tl-halide discharge

CW laser oscillation on Tl⁺ transitions (594.9 nm and 695.1 nm) at low operating temperatures is obtained. As a source of Tl atoms the volatile salt TlCl is used. The compound is evaporated due to selfheating by the discharge current. Maximum laser intensity is obtained at neon pressure of 10–13 Torr and cathode temperature ≈ 320°C.     

Isotope shifts and hyperfine structure of the 6s-7p transitions in the cesium isotopes 133, 135, and 137

The 6s-7p transitions in cesium at 459.3 nm (7² P _1/2) and 455.5 nm (7² P _3/2) have been investigated by saturation spectroscopy in vapor cells, using a laser spectrometer with 500 kHz bandwidth in the blue spectral range. Isotope shifts as well as hyperfine splittings were determined for the isotopes 133, 135 and 137.     

A 750-mW,continuous-wave,solid-state laser source at 313 nm for cooling and manipulating trapped <Superscript>9</Superscript>Be<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions

We present a solid-state laser system that generates 750 mW of continuous-wave, single-frequency output at 313 nm. Sum-frequency generation with fiber lasers at 1550 and 1051 nm produces up to 2 W at 626 nm. This visible light is then converted to ultraviolet by cavity-enhanced second-harmonic generation. The laser output can be tuned over a 495-GHz range, which includes the ⁹Be⁺ laser cooling and repumping transitions. This is the first report of a narrow-linewidth laser system with sufficient power to perform fault-tolerant quantum-gate operations with trapped ⁹Be⁺ ions by use of stimulated Raman transitions.     

Collisionally pumped hybrid soft X-ray laser in Ne-like sulphur

We describe an experiment demonstrating XUV amplification following collisional excitation in a capillary discharge plasma irradiated by a picosecond IR laser pulse. Guiding and temporally resolved transmission of the pump laser beam are also demonstrated and analysed. The short pump laser pulse heated rapidly the electrons producing amplification in the 3p¹S₀–3s¹P₁ transition of Ne-like sulphur at 60.84 nm. The estimated gain–length product was equal to 6.8, while the beam divergence reached 2.5 mrad for 30 mm capillary. This new, hybridly pumped collisional soft X-ray laser with the transient gain offers a new way towards efficient table-top XUV sources.     

Laser spectroscopy of CaF2:Eu:Sm thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Thin films of CaF₂ co-doped with low concentrations of Eu and Sm ions were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using a KrF (λ=248 nm) as the ablation source. To the best of our knowledge, the work presented here is the first report of rare-earth-doped CaF₂ films grown by PLD with this source. Combined laser excitation-emission spectroscopy was used to map out electronic transitions of Eu³⁺ with ⁷F₀→⁵D₁ excitation and the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ emission. At the low concentrations used here the crystal field center of cubic symmetry is dominant in the films that are same for laser targets. However, charge compensated centers are present in the bulk crystal precursor. The removal of the charge compensated centers in the films and the target is likely caused by the target preparation where high pressure and temperature were applied.     

Laser spectroscopy of Nd and Dy ions in lead borate glasses

The spectroscopic and laser properties of Nd³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions in lead borate glass were studied. Luminescence spectra recorded in the near-infrared and visible ranges correspond to ⁴F_3/2-⁴I_J/2 (J=9, 11, 13) transitions of Nd³⁺ and ⁴F_9/2-⁶H_J/2 (J=11, 13, 15) transitions of Dy³⁺, respectively. Luminescence decay curves were analyzed as a function of activator concentration. Luminescence quenching is observed, which is due to Ln-Ln interaction increasing. Several spectroscopic parameters relevant to laser potential of Ln³⁺ ions (Ln=Nd, Dy) in lead borate glass were determined. The relatively large values of the quantum efficiency and the room-temperature emission cross-section for the ⁴F_3/2-⁴I_11/2 transition of Nd³⁺ at 1061 nm and the ⁴F_9/2-⁶H_13/2 transition of Dy³⁺ at 573 nm imply that Ln-doped lead borate glasses can be considered as promising solid-state materials for laser applications.     

Untersuchung der Reaktion Si28 (γ,p) AI27

A silicon semiconductor detector was irradiated with betatron bremsstrahlung of different end point energies and the energy distributions of the protons originating in the detector itself by the reaction Si²⁸(γ,p) Al²⁷ were measured with good statistical accuracy. The end point energies were varied in 1 MeV steps from 15 to 30 MeV. Using the known spectral distribution of theγ-rays the energy dependence of the total cross section of the studied reaction could be derived from the measured proton spectra. The resulting cross section shows a peak at 20, 5 MeV and a half width of 4 MeV. Approximate values for the branching ratios for transitions to excited states of the residual nucleus could also be obtained.     

Isotope shifts and hyperfine structure in the transitions in calcium II

The isotope shift and hyperfine structure in the three - transitions in Ca II have been studied by fast ion beam collinear laser spectroscopy for all stable Ca isotopes. The metastable 3d states were populated within the surface ionization source of a mass separator with a probability of about 0.1%. After resonant excitation to the 4p levels with diode laser light around 850 nm the uv photons from the transitions to the ground state were used for detection. Hyperfine structure parameters A and B for the odd isotope ⁴³Ca, as evaluated from the splittings observed, agree well with theoretical predictions from relativistic many-body perturbation theory. Field shift constants and specific mass shift constants were extracted from the measured isotope shifts and are discussed in comparison with expectation values from theory. Received: 19 September 1997 / Revised: 5 December 1997 / Accepted: 27 January 1998     

Resonantly photo-pumped Fe16+ soft X-ray laser

A resonantly photo-pumped soft x-ray laser process is studied for neon-like iron ions with an automatic line match scheme. The special advantages of this scheme are shown. The temporal characteristics of lasing gains and their dependences on the pump strength and electron density are investigated. Unlike the electron-collisional excitation and some other photo-pumped excitation schemes, it is demonstrated that main photopumped gains come from 2p-4d-3p-3s transition channels. Using the experimental data of pump strengths from a non-LTE plasma produced in our experiment as input data, our model yields a peak gain of 5.6 cm^–1, 2.8 cm^–1 and 1.9 cm^–1 on the dominant lasing transitions at 38.74 nm, 25.47 nm and 20.46 nm.     

Review of theoretical gain-optimization studies in 10.6µm CO2-N2 gasdynamic lasers

A comprehensive theoretical analysis of optimization of gain in CO₂-N₂ gasdynamic laser employing wedge or conical or hyperbolic nozzles with either H₂O or He as the catalyst is presented. After a review of previous work, the usual governing equations for the steady inviscid quasi-one-dimensional flow in a supersonic nozzle of a gasdynamic laser are used to obtain similar solutions for the various flow quantities, which variables are subsequently used to optimize the small-signal gain on theP(20) line of the (001) → (100) transition of CO₂ at wavelength 10.6μm. The corresponding optimum values like reservoir pressure and temperature and nozzle area ratio also have been predicted and presented in the form of graphs. The analysis predicts that employing of 2D-wedge nozzle results in higher gain values and the CO₂-N₂-H₂O gasdynamic laser employing 2D-wedge nozzle is operationally the best laser system for which the optimum value as high as 3.1 m⁻¹ gain can be obtained.     

Efficient design considerations for end-pumped solid-state-lasers

The temperature distribution in the gain medium and key design parameters for an ideal-four level end-pumped solid-state laser have been analyzed depending on the crystal's length, absorption coefficient, and pump beam M² factor. The optimum key design parameters and thermal focal lens are obtained by minimizing the root mean square of pump beam radius in the laser crystal. It is found that the focal thermal lens and key design parameters are dependent on the gain medium characteristics and pump beam properties as well. By considering the Poisson equation in cylindrical coordinate and Top-Hat pumping profile, an analytical formula has been derived to introduce the thermal focal length in the end-pumped lasers. A formula is also presented to relate the requirements of pump source to the gain medium properties for working laser at the design point.