Tunable far-infrared solid-state lasers based on hot holes in germanium

The basic principles for achieving population inversion and stimulated emission in the far-infrared fromp-Ge are discussed. In the heavy-light hole lasing mode a broad gain region is found resulting in a broad multimode spectrum due to intracavity modes. By attaching external plates of germanium a single mode operation is realized. The obtained powers are in the W range with linewidths of 0.2 cm^–1. A single mode magnetically tunable coherent source is achieved with the light hole cyclotron resonance laser. With external mirrors a tuning range from 20 to 120cm^–1 with magnetic fields between 1 and 6 T is achieved. The intensity of the single mode is in the order of W, the linewidth below 0.2 cm^–1.     

R branch tuning characteristics of the13CH3F Raman FIR laser

Summary We described a¹³CH₃F Raman laser pumped by a grating tuned 20 atmospheres CO₂ laser. The emission characteristics of the¹³CH₃F laser extends from 14 cm^–1–35 cm^–1 and from 49 cm^–1–72 cm^–1; about 65% of these frequency ranges can be covered with tunable radiation. The characteristics shows a strong dependence on the rotaional quantum numbers of the states involved in the Raman laser transitions and, within each tuning interval, on the frequency offset with respect to the frequencies of resonant transitions. We obtained, at 51 cm^–1, a maximum FIR laser pulse energy of about 800 J (at a pump energy of 200 mJ), corresponding to a photon conversion of about 8%. In some cases we have observed simultaneous emission at a Raman and a cascade frequency. In addition, FIR emission power dependence on¹³CH₃F gas pressure and pump pulse power were investigated for different J quantum numbers.     

Collisional excitation X-ray laser experiments in plasmas produced by 0.53-μm and 0.35-μm laser light

Recent Ne- and Ni-like X-ray laser experiments carried out at the Centre d'Etudes de Limeil-Valenton (CEL-V) are reviewed. A variety of experiments in Ne-like X-ray lasers were performed; here we discuss measurements of soft X-ray amplification in Ge (Z=32) and Sr (Z=38) plasmas. In Ge plasmas produced by 0.53-m laser light at an irradiance of 6.0×10¹³ W/cm², gains between 2.2–2.5 cm^–1 on the 232.2 and 236.2 Å J=2–1 lines and a gain of 1.0 cm^–1 on the 196.1 Å J=0–1 line were measured. In addition, gains of 4.4 cm^–1 and 4.0 cm^–1 have been demonstrated on the J=2–1 transitions at 164.1 and 166.5 Å in Nelike Sr at laser intensities of 1.3×10¹⁴ W/cm². The effects of pumping the Ne-like Se X-ray laser with 0.35-m laser light have also been investigated; the Se lasing spectra is similar to that obtained with 0.53-m light. Experiments have also been carried out to optimize the gain of the 50.3 Å Ni-like Yb (Z=70) J=0–1 line. For Yb, no significant increase in gain over that previously reported was seen, but the time history of the Ni-like Yb X-ray laser was measured for the first time. Finally, attempts to extrapolate the Ni-like results to shorter wavelength were made using Ta (Z=73), W (Z=74), and Re (Z=75). No definitive observation of the Ni-like J=0–1 lasing lines was made in these experiments.     

Efficient generation of FIR radiation by optical pumping of D2 18O

In this paper we show that D₂ ¹⁸O vapour, optically pumped with a continuously tunable high pressure CO₂ laser, is an excellent source for far infrared radiation. Both high photon conversion coefficients and broad Raman gain regions were found for a large number of new laser transitions spread over the frequency range from 25 cm^–1 to 240 cm^–1. We demonstrate that these Raman gain regions can be used to generate far infrared laser pulses with high intensity and durations of about 100 ps.     

Amplification in Ni-like Nb at 204.2 Å pumped by a table-top laser

We identified for the first time the 3d ⁹4d ¹ S – 3d ⁹4p ¹ P line in Ni-like Nb at 204.2 Å that was predicted to show gain. When pumped with a train of pulses containing less than 1 J per pulse, significant emission was recorded at 204.2 Å following the second and the third pulses. We measured the small signal gain coefficient per Joule of incident laser energy to be 1.49±0.42 cm^–1 J^–1 for this laser transition, which is higher by several orders of magnitude than that reported for other collisional laser systems in this wavelength range.     

Soft X-ray amplification by Li-like Al10+ and Si11+ ions in recombining plasmas

Experimental studies of soft X-ray lasers were carried out on the six-beam laser facility and the LF 12 laser facility of SIOM. Using a home-made one-dimensional spatially resolved grazing incidence grating spectrograph, XUV amplification has been observed in Li-like aluminum and silicon ions, by irradiation of slab targets with a line-focused laser. Based on time-integrated measurement, gain coefficients are 3.1 cm^–1 for the 105.7 Å 5f–3d transition in Li-like Al ions, and 1.5 cm^–1 and 1.4 cm^–1 for the 88.9 Å 5f–3d and the 87.3 Å 5d–3p transitions in Li-like Si ions, respectively. The maximum gain × length products (GL) are about 2.5.     

Generation of high-order rotational lines by four-wave Raman mixing using a high-power picosecond Ti:Sapphire laser

More than thirty rotational lines equally spaced by 587 cm^–1 are generated simultaneously in the vicinity of the fundamental line by four-wave Raman mixing using a high-power picosecond Ti:Sapphire laser as a pump source and hydrogen as a Raman medium. Since the wavelength of this multifrequency laser emission extends from the near-infrared to the near-ultraviolet, it can be utilized as a tunable light source for picosecond spectroscopy. Because of the wide spectral bandwidth available, this procedure has great potential for the generation of ultrashort laser pulses by mode-locking these emission lines.     

Harmonic and sum-frequency generation of pulsed laser radiation in BBO,LBO, and KD*P

The optical properties of the nonlinear crystals lithium borate (LBO), barium borate (BBO) and deuterated potassium phosphate (KD*P) are compared for second and third harmonic generation of Nd:YAG laser radiation. In an experimental investigation the conversion efficiency has been measured as a function of the energy density of 8 ns long laser pulses, generated by a commercial Nd:YAG oscillator-amplifier system. In LBO and BBO the second harmonic generation saturates at an energy density of about 1.5 J cm^–2 at efficiencies of 55–60%. In KD*P comparable efficiencies (40–55%) require energy densities of 2–2.6 J cm^–2. Similar results are obtained for frequency tripling. In LBO and BBO saturated efficiencies of 20–25% are measured at an energy density of about 1.5 J cm^–2. In KD*P efficiencies of 20% are obtained at energy densities exceeding 2 J cm^–2. Besides for doubling and tripling of Nd:YAG laser radiation the phase-matching is calculated for frequency conversion of tunable laser light. The results demonstrate that in LBO and BBO phase-matched sum-frequency mixing of UV and infrared laser light generates tunable radiation at wavelengths as short as the transmission cut-off at 160 nm and 190 nm, respectively.     

New far-infrared laser lines from CH3Cl and CH3Br optically pumped with a continuously tunable high pressure CO2 laser

In this paper we report on the detection of new far-infrared laser lines from CH₃Cl and CH₃Br optically pumped with a continuously tunable high pressure CO₂ laser. We found 80 new lines for CH₃Cl and 9 new lines for CH₃Br in the frequency region between 16 cm^–1 and 41 cm^–1, all due to stimulated Raman scattering. For the Raman gain regions bandwidths up to about 700 MHz were found. We also observed high intensity short far-infrared laser pulses of durations in the nanosecond regime.Permanent address: Physics Department, State Pedagogical University, SU-119435 Moscow, USSR     

Threshold and saturation properties of a solid-state XeF (C-A) excimer laser

A dielectric laser cavity of 1 cm length has been optimized for high gain (7 cm^–1) operation which is achieved in XeF doped Ar crystals. Mode structures on the C-A spectral distribution around 540 nm and far field transverse mode patterns are reported. Photchemical gain burning is observed in the spectral mode structures. The dependence of the laser threshold on pump energy, pumped length and on cavity losses is studied. XeF densities of 7×10¹⁷ cm^–3 and distributed losses of 1.2 cm^–1 are derived. The measured quantum efficiency of 14% and the saturation behaviour are consistently described. Losses by transient aborption and two photon absorption are discussed.     

Detection of methane in air using diode-laser pumped difference-frequency generation near 3.2 μm

Spectroscopic detection of the methane in natural air using an 800 nm diode laser and a diode-pumped 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser to produce tunable light near 3.2 µm is reported. The lasers were pump sources for ring-cavity-enhanced tunable difference-frequency mixing in AgGaS₂. IR frequency tuning between 3076 and 3183 cm^–1 was performed by crystal rotation and tuning of the extended-cavity diode laser. Feedback stabilization of the IR power reduced intensity noise below the detector noise level. Direct absorption and wavelength-modulation (2f) spectroscopy of the methane in natural air at 10.7 kPa (80 torr) were performed in a 1 m single-pass cell with 1 µW probe power. Methane has also been detected using a 3.2 µm confocal build-up cavity in conjunction with an intracavity absorption cell. The best methane detection limit observed was 12 ppb m (Hz.)^–1/2.     

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.     

Relaxation oscillations and damping factors of 1.3 μm In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum-dot lasers

In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum-dot (QD) lasers with emission wavelength at 1295 nm at room temperature are fabricated. The laser active region contains a threefold stack of QD layers with surface dot density of 4.56 × 10¹⁰ cm^–2. The laser structure is aluminum-free with InGaP as cladding layers. Threshold current density of a narrow stripe laser of 8 m wide and 3.5 mm long is 152.5 A/cm². The highest relaxation oscillation frequency measured at room temperature is 1.8 GHz, corresponding to a modulation bandwidth of 2.8 GHz due to the small damping factor. From the above measurement, the differential gain and gain compression factor were extracted to be 4.3 × 10^–16 cm² and 3.4 × 10 ^–17 cm ³, respectively. Using these parameters, the maximum modulation bandwidth f _{3 dB max} is estimated as 7.9 GHz.     

Single line high efficiency tunable fir generation by resonant four-wave mixing in CH3 pumped by a multiatmosphere tunable CO2 laser

By pumping CH₃F with a high pressure tunable TE-CO₂ laser, the resonant four-wave mixing process (RFWM) generates a very efficient tunable single line FIR emission at the Raman frequency. This result is strictly related to the spectroscopic structure of the CH₃F molecule. By means of this process, a tunable FIR emission on a 0.1 cm^–1 bandwidth 150 kW (8 mJ) single line, is obtained which can be used for many FIR multiphoton applications.     

Two-wavelength operation of a tunable KrF excimer laser — A promising technique for combustion diagnostics

A KrF excimer laser was operated on two independently tunable lines. This was achieved by a double-resonator configuration with two gratings. Tuning range and gain competition were investigated. The narrow line width (<1 cm^–1) and the independent tunability make this laser ideal for simultaneous spectroscopic detection of two species and temperature measurements in combustion processes.     

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     

Intense tunable picosecond pulses generated by parametric amplification in β-BaB2O4

Amplified spontaneous emission of a dye cell is parametrically amplified in barium betaborate (BBO) crystals. Pumping the system by the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser a tuning range from 3500 to 25080 cm^–1 is accessible with energy conversion efficiencies of several percent. Properties of ultrashort light pulses in the visible and UV spectral range are presented. A spectral width of 10 cm^–1 and a pulse duration of approximately 20 ps are measured.     

Intra-cavity spectroscopy with diode lasers

A multi-mode diode laser with an external cavity is studied experimentally and theoretically for its application to intra-cavity spectroscopy. One facet of a typical Ga_0.89Al_0.11As laser diode was antireflection-coated by deposition of HfO₂ such that 10^–3 residual reflectivity was left over. This diode was placed in an external optical cavity. The emission spectrum of this diode laser is highly sensitive to any frequency-dependent loss in the cavity, and the detectivity of such a loss grows with the pump rate. Even close to threshold, the absorption at 780 nm of Rb atoms with a density of 5×10¹⁰ cm^–3 has been detected. An adequate model for diode lasers based on rate equations and including frequency-dependent gain saturation is developed and applied to the calculations of output spectra. The sensitivity of these spectra to intra-cavity absorption is determined by the overall cavity loss — which is rather high — and the fraction of spontaneous emission in the total emission, in contrast with dye lasers where it is limited by nonlinear mode coupling. Various criteria for the sensitivity are suggested. The smallest detectable absorption with a perfectly antireflection-coated laser is 10^–6 cm^–1. Improvement of the characteristics of the laser diode would increase the sensitivity.     

The Hall effect in selectively doped strained-layer Ge-Ge1−xSix superlattices superlattices

For the first time, research on the unique galvanomagnetic properties of the hole gas in the channels of selectively doped CVD Ge-Ge_1−XSi_X (X≤0, 2) superlattices with strained Ge layers was carried out. We have obtained a high value of the hole mobility 1.5 × 10⁴ cm²/V s (T = 4, 2 K) at a hole concentrations of (1–5) × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ in SLs channels. It is shown that the main contribution into the longitudinal conductivity of strained Ge-Ge_1−XSi_X SL due to light hole band splitting under the strains in Ge layers.     

Torsion-rotation far-infrared spectrum of O-18 methanol

High-resolution Fourier transform spectra have been recorded from 15–470 cm^–1 for the far-infrared trosion-rotation band of O-18 methanol in the vibrational ground state. So far, 57 subbands have been assigned in the 15–220 cm^–1 region for a wide range of rotational and torsional states, and their J-independent origins have been determined to an estimated accuracy of ±0.01 cm^–1. The observed origins were found to deviate in many cases by several tenths of a cm^–1 from the values calculated with the previous molecular parameters. Together with 4 known microwave origins, the new data have been fitted to a model torsion-rotation Hamiltonian in order to refine the set ofb-type molecular constants for the ground state. With the new parameter set, the experimental subband origins are reproduced with an rms error of ±0.02 cm^–1, representing a substantial improvement over the earlier situation. The spectroscopic results have also been of great assistance with our assignments of optically-pumped FIR laser emission in CH₃ ¹⁸OH, in providing FIR data for checking the identification of the IR-pump/FIR-laser transition systems through combination loop relations.