New TEA-lasers based onD′→A′ transitions in halogen monofluoride compounds: ClF (284.4 nm), BrF (354.5 nm), IF (490.8 nm)

As an outcome of a systematic study of excitation kinetics and fluorescence spectra concerning theD′(3π_2u )→A′(3π_2g ) transitions in homonuclear diatomic halogens and corresponding transitions in interhalogen molecules [1], this paper describes, for the first time, TEA laser action in the three halogen monofluorides ClF, BrF, and IF. Output energies in the mJ range were demonstrated in a fast TEA discharge arrangement at the wavelengths of 284.4, 354.5, and 490.8 nm for ClF, BrF, and IF, respectively. The results suggest parameter scalability and wavelength tunability.     

Influence of collisional coupling on the energy extraction from theB,C, andD state in KrF

Collisional coupling between theB, C, andD states of KrF is measured in a discharge pumped KrF laser. Detection of the time resolved populations in the three states via measurement of the side fluorescence in theB→X, C→A, andD→X bands is used to record the collisional relaxation from theC andD state to theB state during laser emission. The experimentally determined limits for the collisional coupling times are τ_B-C≦1 ns and τ_B-D,τ_C-D<20 ns at total pressures of 2 bar. Investigation of theB→X fluorescence band shows that the vibrational manifold of theB state is not thermalized during laser emission. TheV-V,T coupling time is estimated to be τ_V-V,T=4±2 ns. The influence of collisional coupling on energy extraction in the KrF laser is discussed.     

Nonlinear absorption spectroscopy of the ethane molecule

By means of nonlinear absorption spectroscopy data necessary for the interpretation of molecular spectra can be obtained in such spectral regions, where conventional spectroscopic methods yield only a quasi-continuous absorption curve. Using a Zeeman-tuned He−Ne laser at the wavelength of 3.39μm we have measured significant differences in the intensity and temperature behaviour for several ethane absorption lines, the analysis of which made possible a preliminary qualitative assignment of these lines.     

Imaging and analysis of photomechanical effects induced in water by high-power laser-target interaction

The kinetics of cavitation and associated photo-mechanical effects induced by underwater pulsed-laser irradiation of solid targets has been studied experimentally and analyzed with theoretical methods. A xenon-chloride excimer laser of 150 ns pulse duration has been utilized to produce ablation and local photofragmentation of artificial samples of hard tissues at fluences of 12–24 J/cm². The evolution of pressure wave and cavitation formations developing in the liquid from the target surface after laser irradiation has been observed with a time-resolved imaging technique employing a pump-probe laser arrangement. The analysis of experimental results has been performed by using the theoretical model of point explosion that has been successfully applied to fit the cavitation kinetics, providing also quantitative information on the energy transfer during photo-acoustic interactions.     

Resonant light absorption by the ordered structures of ions stored in a trap

Far-infrared laser action has been demonstrated in three previously unknown laser media. The substances used were: propargyl fluoride, 15-N cyanogen fluoride, and hydroxylamine. Assignments of the molecular transitions giving rise to the observed laser lines were made for the latter two compounds.New FIR laser lines were also observed with two substances, vinyl chloride and vinyl fluoride, which were already known as laser media by pumping with isotopic CO₂ and N₂O laser lines.The wavelengths of a total of 26 new FIR laser lines were determined together with the threshold pump power and an indication of the relative line strengths.     

Vibrational relaxation of KrF* and XeCl* by rare gases

A steady-state, chemiluminescence technique has been used to measure effective rate constants for vibrational relaxation as a function of vibrational level for KrF^* in collisions with He, Ne, and Ar and XeCl^* with Ar. The effective rate constants reported include contributions to relaxation due to intersystem crossing between theB andC states, in addition to direct relaxation within theB state. The relevance of these results to the understanding of previous measurements in KrF and XeCl lasers is discussed.     

Theory of intracavity absorption spectroscopy with a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator

The suitability of a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator pumped by a one-mode field and oscillating simultaneously in several signal and idler modes, for intracavity absorption spectroscopic measurements is studied theoretically. For steadystate operation, the enhancement factor ξ indicating the increased detection sensitivity, is shown to be mainly determined by the ratio of the intensity in one of the signal modes to the intensity (per mode) due to parametric fluorescence. Hence, rather high values of ξ, say of order 10⁸ or more, might be attainable, at least in principle. For pulsed operation, on the other hand, a numerical analysis leads to the result that for realistic pulse durations only moderate values of ξ (smaller than some 10³) will be found. Paper given in parts at the 6th Vavilov-Conference on Nonlinear Optics, Novosibirsk, USSR, 1979.     

Characterization of the noise in continuously operating mode-locked lasers

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the fluctuations of the pulses from continuous-wave mode-locked lasers is presented. It is shown that these fluctuations can be detected and quantitatively characterized from measurements of the power spectrum of the light intensity. Such power spectra can be measured with great accuracy by shining the laser output on a suitable photodetector and by processing the detector signal with the use of an electronic spectrum analyzer. Different types of noise such as fluctuations of the pulse energy, pulse repetition time, and pulse duration, can be readily recognized from their characteristic spectral signature. Experimental results of noise measurements are presented for a synchronously mode-locked dye laser pumped by an acousto-optically mode-locked argon ion laser, and also for a colliding pulse passively mode-locked dye laser.     

Intracavity self-phase modulation and pulse compression in mode-locked lasers

We show that in the presence of a bandwidth-limiting component intracavity selfphase modulation in high power mode-locked and Q-switched lasers is accompanied by interesting pulse-shaping phenomena. If the phase modulation is properly controlled the pulse duration can approach the limit given by the frequency bandwidth of the laser. For example, for a Nd: YAG laser our calculations predict an intracavity pulse compression by approximately a factor of ten over the typical pulse duration of conventional mode-locking.     

Gain and excited singlet and triplet state absorption spectra of some 9-acetoxy-10(halogenoacetoxy)phenylanthracenes

An apparatus for, optical gain spectra measurements is described, which has been used to determine the gain spectra of several halogen substituted derivatives of 9-acetoxy-10(2-acetoxy)phenylanthracenes. Using the determinedS ₁- andT ₁-excited state absorption spectra and other spectroscopic data the gain spectrum have been computed. The changes of the determined laser parameters and spectroscopic data of the halogen substituted derivatives are discussed with reference to the intramolecular heavy atom effect.Work partially supported within the project CPBP01.06 and from the Foreign Commission at the University of Bremen     

Optically pumped FIR-laser with variable Fabry-Perot output coupler

An optically pumped FIR laser was operated with a copper mesh Fabr-Perot output coupler. With this device a Gaussian output beam was obtained andthe degree of coupling could be varied continuously, thus allowing optimum coupling. From the measured properties of the wire mesches grains of two FIR laser lines are calculated and the saturation intensities estimated.     

Free-electron lasers and masers on curved paths

The possibility of building free-electron lasers and masers with quasi-circular undulators is considered. The two-mirror cavity is replaced by a suitable waveguide. The magnetic field along the orbit has a continuous component superimposed on the alternating one. Besides allowing large freedom for electron guiding and focusing, the structure allows effective negative mass conditions, which may enhance the electron beam modulation when space charge effect are important. Furthermore the radiation frequency can be higher than that in a linear undulator with the same electron energy, and long interaction times are possible in a compact structure. Work partially supported by the CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy), contract n. 78.00915.02 and n.78.00916.02.     

A magnetic tuning system for dye lasers

A new device for magnetically displacing the output mirror of a laser resonator and synchronously tilting an etalon in order to obtain single-mode tuning of a dye laser over a tuning range of at least 10 GHz is described. Comparatively large displacements with good linearity of a coil mounted on a membrane and placed inside the strong magnetic field of a ring magnet are obtained for currents in the order of several hundred milliamperes. Together with etalon flats of appropriate thickness and reflection mounted in the resonator of the laser a versatile instrument for application in intra and extra cavity spectroscopy has been developed.     

Frequency locking and unlocking in a femtosecond ring laser with application to intracavity phase measurements

Frequency coupling between the counter-propagating pulses inside a femtosecond ring laser gyroscope is studied. It is shown that frequency lock-in results from the counter-propagating pulses overlapping at or near a scattering surface. Nonetheless, the absence of lock-in with a scatterer at the pulse crossing point is demonstrated for the special case of symmetric scattering. The decoupling of the counter-propagating pulses makes possible the measurement of non-reciprocal phase differences of 10^–5 and index differences of 10^–10 over 1 cm. Besides measuring rotations, applications are found in the measurement of small changes in the index of refraction, and electrical transients on the 100 fs time scale.Prof. F. P. Schäfer on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

A differential technique to measure small product yield increments in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for investigating IR spectra of highly excited polyatomics

We present an experimental technique for measuring small product yield increments in a specially designed time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a supersonic jet. Advantages of this technique are demonstrated in measuring the photodissociation IR spectrum (990–1050 cm^–1) of CF₃I molecules with vibrational energy at the threshold value. The differential technique has enabled us to reveal an anomalously narrow width of the spike of thev ₁ band of CF₃I. We discuss this anomaly.     

Counting of particles in aqueous solutions by laser-induced photoacoustic breakdown detection

Laser-induced photoacoustic breakdown detection is applied for the determination of particles in aqueous dispersion. Polystyrene (latex), alumina and thoriasol particles of different sizes are investigated for demonstration. Laser pulses at 500 nm with 28 ns pulse width (FWHM), generated by an excimer ( = 308 nm) pumped dye laser, are focused into aqueous particle dispersions to produce breakdown. The dye laser pulse energy is fixed at a value lower than the breakdown threshold of pure water to initiate a dielectric breakdown only when particles are present in a given focus volume. Focus volume parameters and particle size dependent breakdown thresholds are calculated and the results are compared with data from literature. Dependence of breakdown threshold values on the chemical composition of the particles is determined for polystyrene, alumina and thoriasol particles.     

On the opto-voltaic measurements in CO and CO2 lasers

We observed and compared the opto-voltaic signals in CO and CO₂ lasers. The signals are obtained capacitively from the water cooling jacket as a low voltage source not influencing the current circuit. We observed from measurement that the output power and the so-called optovoltaic input power have a distinct relationship depending on laser current and cavity parameters. It will be shown that opto-voltaic detection is a very sensitive method especially for CO lasers.     

New results on ultrafast coherent excitation of molecular vibrations in liquids

Coherent Raman probe scattering experiments are performed to study dynamical processes of polyatomic liquids at 300 K. For single homogeneous transitions the dephasing timeT ₂ is readily obtained from time resolved investigations. Spectral studies show an interesting time dependent shift in scattered frequency. After the excitaiton the vibrating molecules are shown to relax freely with their resonance frequency. Multiple, equally spaced transitions exhibit a beating phenomenon which provides the dephasing time and the frequency interval between neighboring vibrational states. Inhomogeneously broadened systems do not allow a ready determination of the dephasing time by the present probing technique. Previous experiments on the subject have to be reconsidered.