Discovery and measurement of optically pumped far-infrared laser emissions in 13CD3OH

We report the discovery of four laser emissions from the partially deuterated C-13 methanol isotope ¹³CD₃OH when optically pumped with a cw carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser. The wavelengths of these lines, ranging from 45.3 to 108.9 m, are reported along with their polarizations relative to the CO₂ pump laser, operating pressure, and relative intensity. A three-laser heterodyne system was then used to measure the frequencies of eight optically pumped laser emissions from this methanol isotope. These emissions range from 53.4 to 126.1 m and are reported with fractional uncertainties up to ±2×10^-7. PACS 07.57.Hm; 42.55.Lt     

Discovery and frequency measurement of far-infrared laser emissions generated by optically pumped CH2DOH

A recently improved three-laser heterodyne system was used to frequency measure ten previously observed optically pumped far-infrared (FIR) laser emissions from the partially deuterated methanol isotopologue CH₂DOH. Also, a 64.0 μm FIR emission generated by the 9P32 line of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser was discovered and frequency measured. These newly measured frequencies have fractional uncertainties on the order of ±2×10^-7 and correspond to laser wavelengths ranging from 42.6 to 152.7 μm. The offset frequency for the CO₂ pump laser was measured for twenty-two CH₂DOH FIR laser emissions. PACS 07.57.Hm; 42.55Lt; 42.62.Eh     

Gain of a CW optically pumped far-infrared laser with sandwich resonator

The FIR laser gain of CW optically pumped HCOOH was measured and compared to theoretical calculations. Since the laser has a transversely pumped parallel-plate (or sandwich) waveguide, the pump field is the same for oscillating and amplifying operation. Therefore, true FIR-gains were measured. The theory takes into account several phenomena, that are frequently simplified when considering FIR lasers, such as the pump and the FIR beam's spatial distribution, power broadening of the pump absorption, as well as heat and molecular diffusion. As a result, good quantitative agreement between theory and measurement was achieved.     

A review of optically pumped far-infrared laser lines from methanol isotopes

The technique of optical pumping in polar molecules is the most efficient for Far-Infrared (FIR) laser generation, providing also a versatile and powerful tool for molecular spectroscopy in this spectral region. Methanol (CH₃OH) and its isotopic varieties are the best media for optically pumped FIR laser, with over thousand lines observed, and the most widely used for investigations and applications. In this sense, it is important organize and make available catalogues of FIR laser lines as complete as possible. Since the last critical reviews of 1984 [1] on methanol and its isotopic varieties [2,3,4], over hundred papers have been published dealing with hundreds of new FIR laser lines. In 1992 a review of FIR laser lines from CH₃OH was presented [5]. In this communication we extend this work to the other methanol isotopes, namely CH₃OD, CD₃OH, CD₃OD,¹³CH₃OH,¹³CD₃OH,¹³CD₃OD, CH₃ ¹⁸OH, CH₂DOH, CHD₂OH and CH₂DOD.Work supported by FAPESP, CNPq, FAEP-Brasil, and CNR-Italia     

100 ps far-infrared laser pulses from optically pumped D2O

In this paper we report the generation of ultrashort far-infrared laser pulses with durations less than 100 ps, powers exceeding 200 kW and intensities of more than 1.5 MW/cm². Far-infrared radiation was produced via stimulated resonance Raman scattering using a high-pressure CO₂-laser as pump source and the heavy water isotopes D₂¹⁶O and D₂¹⁸O as far-infrared laser media. Pulses achieved from this laser system were detected by a novel type of detector, sensitive over a broad spectral range from the far-infrared to the visible, basing on quasiparticle heating in a strip-line structured YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ thin film.     

Operating parameter optimization of optically pumped CH3OH far-infrared laser

By solving the density matrix equations of a quantum system, the output power intensity of an optically pumped CH₃OH FIR laser (CH₃OH-OPFIRL) was calculated by means of iteration method, and the spectral characteristics were got. Base on the calculation, optimization of operating parameters including operating gas pressure, pumped power and output coupling coefficient of the CH₃OH cavity laser were systematically studied. Experimental, a series of FIR emissions of the CH₃OH cavity laser pumped by TEA-CO₂ laser with 9P(16) line were measured. The experimental results were in good agreement with theoretical calculations. The project was supported by the Special Research Foundation of Doctorate Station in University of P.R.C.     

Spectra of optically pumped superradiant and cavity NH3 far-infrared laser

Based on the density matrix theory of quantum system, the spectra of optically pumped superradiant and cavity NH₃ far-infrared (FIR) lasers were calculated by means of iteration method. The calculation showed that, compared with the optically pumped superradiant FIR laser, the cavity laser had a wider band spectrum of FIR emission and a higher output power under certain condition, moreover, the spectra of cavity laser had multi longitudinal-mode structure. Supported by the Research Foundation of Hubei Province Education Committee, PRC     

Simulation of optically pumped intersubband laser in magnetic field

Simulations of an optically pumped intersubband laser in magnetic field up to 60 T are performed within the steady-state rate equations model. The electron-polar optical phonon scattering is calculated using the confined and interface phonon model. A strong oscillatory optical gain vs. magnetic field dependence is found, with two dominant gain peaks occurring at 20 and 40 T, the fields which bring appropriate states into resonance with optical phonons and thus open additional relaxation paths. The peak at 20 T exceeds the value of gain achieved at zero field.     

A new efficient far-infrared optically pumped laser gas: CH3 18OH

The¹²CH₃ ¹⁸OH molecule has been investigated for new far-infrared laser lines by optically pumping it with a cw waveguide CO₂ laser. The larger tunability (318 MHz) with respect to a conventional CO₂ laser permits the pumping of many¹²CH₃ ¹⁸OH lines. As a consequence 100 new laser lines have been discovered, ranging from 34.6 m to 653.2 m in wavelength. The infrared spectrum of¹²CH₃ ¹⁸OH has been observed and all the fundamental vibration energies measured.     

Oversized helical waveguides for optically pumped far-infrared lasers

The feasibility and the theory of oversized helical waveguides for optically pumped far-infrared lasers are studied. The dispersion relation and the relevant pass bands are shown.     

Two-photon optically pumped laser

At high temperature, the transmission peaks of a Fabry-Perot cavity filled with rubidium show sharp structures when the frequency of the laser is close to the 5S_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} - 5D_{$\text{5}\text{2}$} two-photon transition. These structures correspond to a laser emission between 5D_{$\text{5}\text{2}$} and 5P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}. The wavelength of this laser emission (7759 Å) is smaller than the exciting wavelength (7779 Å).     

Plasma diagnostic applications on the TEXT tokamak using a high power, twin frequency optically pumped far-infrared laser

A high-power, twin-frequency, optically-pumped, far-infrared (FIR) laser has been developed at UCLA for diagnostic application on the TEXT tokamak. The source is operated at 245 GHz (=1.22 mm) for heterodyne scattering measurements and 694 GHz (=432 m) for high resolution interferometry. Future plans include a 30 channel interferometer/polarimeter operating at 694 GHz to accurately determine current profiles.     

Characteristics of a far-infrared molecular laser optically pumped by a high-power CO2 laser

A molecular far-infrared (FIR) laser optically pumped by a high-power CO₂ laser, which is a powerful source for testing detectors and mixers and for FIR spectroscopy, is constructed and the performance is examined through experiments. At frequencies between 580GHz and 4.25THz, FIR output power is more than 2030m W by pumping power of 3581W. Amplitude stability of ±3% is obtained at 100m W output at 2.52THz for over 30 minutes when the FIR tube is cooled at 5°C by a chiller.As an application to testing mixers, FIR laser lines up to 4.25 THz are detected by Schottky barrier diodes (SBD). Further, using a SBD, performance of absolute frequency stability at 693GHz of HCOOH oscillation is measured by harmonic mixing with a 115.5GHz millimeter wave from a phase-locked Gunn oscillator. The resultant center-frequency stability is 100kHz per 10 minutes.     

Tunable far-infrared radiation from optically pumped potassium Rydberg transitions

We report the generation of tunable far-infrared radiation by the optical pumping of potassium metal vapor to the13p Rykberg state. Subsequent cascade by stimulated emission is measured at several wavelengths between 76 and 146 cm^–1 with a conversion quantum efficiency of greater than 10 percent. Emission observed in this region are tuned up to 18 GHz by the application of a pulsed Stark field across a parallel-plate heat pipe. Cascade branching to the 11d to 10f transition at 146 cm^–1 is observed which can be tuned up to 7 cm^–1 in our device. Similar branching following excitation up to the 18 p state is shown to provide almost complete tunability in the far-infrared region.Work performed under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract number W-7405-ENG-48.     

Saturation resonance of atoms optically pumped by a monomode laser beam

The existence of two types of phenomena (the population effect and the Zeeman coherence effect) in saturation resonances by magnetic mode crossing have been predicted theoretically. A direct experimental proof is given here, by the observation of the Π component of the fluorescence light emitted by neon atoms optically pumped by a monomode 6328 Å laser beam.     

The far-infrared laser magnetic resonance spectrum of the CH radical

Transitions between the spin-rotational levels of the ¹³CH radical in the v=0 level of the ground state have been detected by the technique of laser magnetic resonance at far-infrared wavelengths. These measurements have been combined with the previous measurements of the lambda-doubling intervals of the molecule [J. Chem. Phys. 85 (1986) 1276 ] to determine an improved set of molecular parameters for ¹³CH. The analysis provides accurate predictions of the transition frequencies between the low-lying spin-rotational levels of the radical at zero magnetic field. A comparison is made with the values of the corresponding parameters of ¹²CH which reveals small effects due to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.     

Polarization characteristics in optically pumped,far-infrared rectangular waveguide lasers

It has been shown that a linearly polarized, comparatively strong output power can be obtained from optically pumped, far-infrared rectangular waveguide lasers when the rectangular, metallic oversized waveguide is used as a tall guide instead of a standard guide.