Frequency tunable single-line pulsed first-overtone carbon monoxide laser

Tunable single-line first-overtone (FO) CO lasing on wavelengths from 2.7 up to 4.2 μm corresponding to overtone vibrational transitions from 13→11 up to 38→36 on 413 ro-vibrational lines was experimentally obtained. A parametric study of energetic and spectral characteristics of the single-line FO CO laser was carried out. Energy distribution over ro-vibrational lines was measured. The maximum specific output energy (SOE) came up to 3 J/l Amagat, with single-line output efficiency being up to 0.6%. For the first time, a multi-quantum theoretical model was used to describe the tunable single-line FO CO laser. This multi-quantum approach demonstrated better agreement between theoretical calculations and observed experimental data for laser output as a function of vibrational quantum numbers.     

Scaling probability, key to the equilibrium statistical volume distribution in foams

The equilibrium statistical volume distribution in foams, which has been previously demonstrated to be the so-called log-normal, is accounted on probability grounds by a scaling law on the bubble's volume time-evolution. This law states that the conditional probability for a given bubble to have the volume v(t + Δt), he assumption that it was v(t), to depend solely on the relationship v(t + Δt)/v(t), and in particular, to be independent of the time t. The theoretical results, however, allow to go further. Indeed, since the time dependece of its parameters (expectation and variance) are given functions of time, only two parameters are necessary to describe completely the foam.     

Wideband CO laser in problems of laser sensing of minor gaseous components in the atmosphere

In the present work it is demonstrated that a wideband CO laser operating at fundamental and overtone vibrational transitions is a promising source of laser radiation for remote laser sensing of the atmosphere. A compact slab RF-discharge CO laser has been designed. The optimal operating conditions are determined for this CO laser. In experiments, the maximum average output laser power was ∼12 W for lasing efficiency of ∼14%. Under fixed experimental conditions, stable lasing (with fluctuations of the output laser characteristics ≤5%) was observed during more than one hour, which suggests that we first excited the sealed-off mode of cryogenic slab RF-discharge CO laser. The frequency-selective mode was first obtained for this laser. Wavelengths for sensing of nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, methane, formaldehyde, and some other gases on near-ground propagation paths are determined. Our experiments and calculations confirm that this CO laser is promising for laser gas analysis. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 76–83, November, 2008.     

Radiative characteristics of a two-section laser structure based on a δ-doping superlattice

Spectral characteristics of a two-section laser structure with δ-doping active regions are studied theoretically. The wide range of tuning of the lasing wavelength is primarily related to specific characteristics of the gain spectra of n-i-p-i crystals: the dependence of the effective band-gap width of the superlattice on the level of excitation, the character of variation of the overlap integrals of the electron and hole wave functions, and broadening of the electronic spectra due to fluctuations of the electrostatic potential. Depending on the pumping currents in sections of the laser structure, the lasing wavelength can be tuned over a wide spectral range of the IR region in regimes of cw lasing, the transient regime, and the regime of regular pulsations. In the regime of self-sustaining pulsations, lasing is also possible at two wavelengths spaced well apart.     

A laboratory study of the 8.65 μm fundamental of CH3D at temperatures relevant to titan''s atmosphere

Spectral transmittance measurements have been performed in the v₆-fundamental of ¹²CH₃D at 153 K. Relevant to the studies of the emission spectra of Titan recorded by the IRIS instruments on board Voyagers 1 and 2, N₂ has been used as the broadening gas. Excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical spectral transmittance has been the result of using N₂-broadened line widths and their dependence upon temperature measured by us in the v₂-fundamental and S = 63.6 cm^-2 atm^-1 for the absolute intensity of the v₆-fundamental.     

Magnetic moment of the Δ (1232) resonance

The reaction γp → π^°γ′p has been measured with the TAPS BaF₂ calorimeter at the Mainz Microtron accelerator facility MAMI for energies between √2 = 1221–1331 MeV. Cross sections differential in angle and energy have been determined for the photon γ′ in three bins of the excitation energy. This reaction channel provides access to the magnetic dipole moment of the Δ⁺(1232) resonance and, for the first time, a value of μ_Δ+ = (2.7^+1.0_−1.3(stat) ± 1.5(syst) ± (theor)) π_N has been extracted.     

Lasers on overtone transitions of carbon monoxide molecule

The experimental and theoretical study of lasers working on the first vibrational overtone of the CO molecule is reviewed. A theoretical model of the active medium of the CO laser and its verification are presented. The CO laser operation in a wide spectral range (2.5–4.2 μm) that spans the atmospheric transparency window is demonstrated in the review of experimental works. It is shown that the overtone CO laser can serve as an effective mid-IR source for atmospheric spectroscopy, long-distance transportation of laser radiation, remote laser sensing, etc.     

Saturated absorption spectroscopy of buffer-gas-cooled Barium monofluoride molecules

We report an experimental investigation on the Doppler-free saturated absorption spectroscopy of buffer-gas-cooled Barium monofluoride (BaF) molecules in a 4 K cryogenic cell. The obtained spectra with a resolution of 19 MHz, much smaller than previously observed in absorption spectroscopy, clearly resolve the hyperfine transitions. Moreover, we use these high-resolution spectra to fit the hyperfine splittings of excited A(v = 0) state and find the hyperfine splitting of the laser-cooling-relevant A²Π_1/2(v = 0, J = 1/2,+) state is about 18 MHz, much higher than the previous theoretically predicted value. This provides important missing information for laser cooling of BaF molecules.     

Coercivity analysis in R17Fe83−χBχ magnets

We studied the coercivity in magnets of composition R₁₇Fe_83−χB_χ (R = Nd, Pr and χ = 8, 30), using measurements of the coercive field H_c, its angular dependence, and the magnetic viscosity coefficient S_v, for temperatures between 4.2 and 500 K. The results are discussed in relation to a model which does not specifically consider the detailed mechanisms involved in magnetization reversal, but which provides information about the magnetic properties in the activation volume v where magnetization reversal is initiated. It is concluded that the ordering temperature in v tends to be slightly smaller than in the bulk and that the room temperature anisotropy in v is not strongly reduced with respect to the bulk value. Finally, a direct evaluation of the dipolar interactions is in good agreement with results obtained from H_c(T).     

Band structures of Se and Se

Band structures of ⁷⁶Se and ⁷⁸Se have been studied with the ^74,76Ge(, 2nγ)^76,78Se reactions by using a variety of in-beam γ-techniques : γ-ray singles spectra, γ-ray excitation functions, γ-γ-t coincidences, γ-ray angular distributions and γ-ray linear polarizations.

Spins and parities have been assigned uniquely for many new levels in ⁷⁶Se and ⁷⁸Se and four bands have been identified in both nuclei: (i) the ground-state band, (ii) a positive-parity ΔJ = 1 band built on the second 2⁺ state (γ-vibrational band), (iii) a negative-parity Δ J = 2 band built on the 3⁻ state (octupole band) and (iv) a ΔJ = 2 band built on the high-lying J = 4 state. In addition, the second 8 ⁺ and 10⁺ states, which are possibly the lowest members of a band, have been found in both nuclei.

Systematics of the band structures obtained are discussed. Level energies of the band members and B(E2) ratios for some of the inter-band transitions between γ- and ground-state bands have been calculated with the proton-neutron interacting boson model IBM-2 and a reasonable agreement with the present data has been obtained.     

Dynamics of a Loss-Modulated, Two-Wave CO2 Laser Lasing on Lines of Different Vibrational Bands

The nonlinear dynamics of a loss-modulated, two-wave CO₂ laser lasing on vibrational–rotational lines of different vibrational bands has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the time and energy parameters of laser radiation can be controlled within fairly wide limits by changing the depth and frequency of modulation and the ratio between the constant components of the losses.     

Reversing multistrip coupler

A theory of a reversing multistrip coupler (RMSC) is presented based on a previously developed spectral theory of IDTs. It shows that the frequency dependence of the track-changing reflection of a SAW taking place in a RMSC, and the dependence of the reflection of the SAW from a periodic grating reflector are described by the same functions. The reflection of the SAW to the other channel is complete in a narrow frequency band of relative width (2/3) Δv/v if the RMSC is sufficiently long. Several expected applications of RMSCs are discussed, among them SAW dispersive filters, resonators, and low-loss filters.     

Renormalization group invariant matrix elements of ΔS=2 and ΔI=3/2 four-fermion operators without quark masses

We introduce a new parameterization of four-fermion operator matrix elements which does not involve quark masses and thus allows a reduction of systematic uncertainties. In order to simplify the matching between lattice and continuum renormalization schemes, we express our results in terms of renormalization group invariant B-parameters which are renormalization-scheme and scale independent. As an application of our proposal, matrix elements of ΔI=3/2 and SUSY ΔS=2 operators have been computed. The calculations have been performed using the tree-level improved Clover lattice action at two different values of the strong coupling constant (β=6/g²=6.0 and 6.2), in the quenched approximation. Renormalization constants and mixing coefficients of lattice operators have been obtained non-perturbatively. Using lowest order χPT, we also obtain ππ|O₇|K^NDR_I=2=(0.11±0.02) GeV⁴ and ππ|O₈|K^NDR_I=2=(0.51±0.05) GeV⁴ at μ=2 GeV.     

Vibrationally resolved band profiles for autoionisation of NO (cΠ) nℓλ (vR=0) Rydberg states into NO AΠ (vi=0, 1, 2) vibronic levels

Excitation spectra for dispersed VUV-fluorescence of NO (λ_fl=134–152 nm) were measured in the exciting-photon energy range between 16.9 and 24.8 eV using monochromatised synchrotron radiation at medium bandwidth of 29 meV. Fluorescence from A¹Π (v_i=0, 1, 2) vibronic NO⁺-levels and fluorescence from excited dissociation fragments NI (3s ²P_J) was observed simultaneously by recording the dispersed fluorescence with a monochromator–position-sensitive detector combination. The autoionisation of NO (c³Π) nℓλ (v_R=0) Rydberg levels into the NO⁺ A¹Π (v_i=0, 1, 2) vibronic levels was observed vibrationally resolved. Different Beutler–Fano profiles for autoionisation of one Rydberg level NO (c³Π) nℓλ (v_R=0) into the different vibronic NO⁺ A¹Π (v_i=0, 1, 2) levels are clearly visible. The dependence of the Beutler–Fano profiles on the quantum numbers n, ℓ, and λ of the Rydberg electron is discussed. For the direct photoionisation into the NO⁺ A¹Π (v_i=0, 1, 2) vibronic levels a non-Franck–Condon behaviour was observed.     

Magnetic aftereffect associated with narrow domain walls in some rare earth based intermetallic compounds

Using quasi-static fields and pulsed fields we have measured the magnetization rate dM/dt = v as a function of field H for Dy₃Al₂ and DyCoNi which present narrow domain walls. The experimental results follow the empirical law v = v∞ exp (−H_o/H). An analogous experimental law has been observed for domain reversal in ferroelectrics and for dislocation motion.     

A new family of lasing dyes from an old family of fluors

We report the development of a new series of laser dyes and describe the performance of these materials. This work was spurred by the realization that few laser dyes have an optimally shaped fluorescence emission for lasing action. Most of the dipole strength of the transition is concentrated in the 0.0 band, where lasing cannot occur, and very little is concentrated in the vibrational satellites 0–1 and 0–2 where lasing is possible. The new dyes are unsymmetrical materials which may be considered as a hybrid of a rhodamine molecule and a fluorescein molecule (fig. 1), and we consider them to be cyclized merocyanines. One dye in particular, 6-dimethylamino-9-o-carboxyphenylxanthen-3H-one (labelled SNH-8), has given power output and time stability better than the preferred lasing dye Rhodamine 6G. The effects of dye structure and of acid-base transitions on lasing activity will be discussed briefly. The theory of band-shaping and the detailed optical parameters of the new dyes will be presented separately.     

Compact overtone band carbon monoxide laser

An electric-discharge carbon monoxide broadband overtone laser has been developed. The laser is capable of lasing on CO first overtone bands only (Δv = 2) and delivering up to 12 W cw power at efficiencies of up to 5%. The laser output consists of vibrational-rotational lines of the v = 9 → 7 to v = 35 → 33 overtone bands and covers the spectral range between 2.6 and 3.9 μm. Totally about 40-45 lines could be observed in the laser spectrum simultaneously. A kinetic modeling code has been developed to predict the power, efficiency, and the output spectrum of the CO overtone laser.     

Quantum-resolved angular distributions of neutral products in electron-stimulated processes: desorption of CO from Pt(111)

The first quantum-resolved angular distribution measurements of electronically-excited neutral molecules which have undergone electron stimulated desorption (ESD) are presented. Two-dimensional imaging of laser resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) is used to obtain angular distributions of CO^* in the v=0 vibrational level of the metastable a³Π_r state desorbed from CO/Pt(111) by 350 eV electrons. For saturation CO coverages at 90 K, sharp Gaussian distributions peaked about the surface normal (6° ± 0.5° half-width at half maximum) are observed, consistent with previously reported data acquired by ESDIAD (ESD ion angular distributions). The (1 + 1) photon REMPI scheme for state-specific CO^* detection involves the b³Σ(v = 0) ← a³Π(v = 0) transition at 283 nm, followed by photoionization at the same wavelength. In this paper, the overall experimental technique for REMPI imaging of products from electron stimulated processes is discussed. Thus specific CO^* data as a function of coverage and temperature is presented for comparison with the ESDIAD results.     

Infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy of dipole-forbidden adsorbate vibrations

Formally dipole-forbidden adsorbate vibrational modes have recently been detected using infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). In an earlier publication we have proposed that the excitation of these modes is indirect, mediated by the metal electrons and closely related to the concept of surface resistivity. Here we extend that theory to lower frequencies; for parallel adsorbate vibrations the theory predicts an anti-absorption resonance with an unique asymmetry which only depends on the ratio ω₀/ω₁ between the adsorbate vibrational frequency ω₀ and ω₁ = v_F/δ where v_F is the Fermi velocity and δ = c/ω_p the skin depth. The theory is in very good agreement with the IRAS measurements of Hirschmugl et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 65 (1990) 480] for CO on Cu(100) and in qualitative agreement with the measurements of Lin et al. [Phys. Rev. B 48 (1993) 2791] for CO on Ni(100).     

Pre-equilibrium decay in the exciton model

A new closed-form formulation of the statistical exciton model which gives results very similar to the total pre-equilibrium spectrum obtained by solving a set of Boltzmann-like master equations that describe the nuclear equilibration process, is suggested. The effect of including the loss of strength from each exciton state of a composite nucleus due to the transitions of Δn = 0 (Δp = Δh = 0) in both the master equations and closed-form formalisms is discussed.