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     

Improving the efficiency of certain optically pumped lasers

It is shown that for certain optically excited symmetric top molecules which lase in the far-infrared that it is possible to increase their lasing efficiency through resonant pumping of the higher k quantum number transitions which have increased statistical weights due to increased molecular symmetry.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

The tuning characteristics of optically pumped fir cavity laser

Based on the quantum mechanics theory of density matrix and the principle of multiple-beam interference, the tuning characteristics of optically pumped NH₃ FIR lasers were studied. A series of metallic mesh Fabry-Perot cavity lasers with sample tubes of 10cm, 20cm and 100cm in length were constructed and operated successfully, and the FIR laser spectra of the NH₃ cavity lasers pumped by a TEA-CO₂ laser were measured. Supported by the Natural Sciences Foundation of Guangdong Province, PRC     

Nonlinear level crossing in the infrared transitions of optically pumped far infrared laser media

In conjunction with the Stark field induced power enhancement in optically pumped far infrared lasers, absorption transitions in a degenerate two level system under the influence of an weak static Stark field have been analyed. A third order theory to the density matrix formalism leads to zero field level crossing signals for absorption in rate equation approximation and in Doppler limit. For fast relaxation among Zeeman sublevels, the zero field level crossing signal arises from population effect. Optoacoustic measurements have been carried out on the ₅,^qQ(16,8) absorption line of CH₃OH which produces the familiar 119-m laser with the CO₂ 9P(36) pump line. The optoacoustic absorption signals observed are well reproduced by the theoretical expression.     

A high-power far-infrared NH3 laser pumped in a three-mirror CO2 laser cavity with optically-switched cavity-dumping

Results are reported of cavity-dumping a submillimeter radiation high-Q, zig-zag optically-pumped resonator which utilizes a silicon optical switch photo-excited by a NdYAG laser. Peak powers at 152 m approaching 10 kW in temporally smooth pulses of 5 ns (FWHM) duration have been obtained at a pulse repetition rate of 12 Hz. The far-infrared laser radiation, as measured with a scanning metal-mesh Fabry-Perot interferometer and averaged over many pulses, is, upon deconvolution of the 125 MHz instrumental linewidth, found to oscillate in a predominantly single longitudinal mode of width 250 MHz. Theoretical investigations of the transient far-infrared reflectivity of the silicon optical switch predict a rise in the Brewster-angle reflectivity from 0% to nearly 80% in 1 ns, when activated by a Q-switched, frequency-doubled NdYAG laser providing an incident energy density of 50 mJ/cm² in a pulsewidth of 10 ns.     

Spectral characteristic study of Raman transition interaction in optically pumped FIR laser

The spectral characteristic of an optically pumped NH3 molecules FIR laser has been studied by a F-P interferometer and a Michelson interferometer. It was verified that when NH3 molecules were pumped by CO2-9R(16) line, a emission by Raman transitions of two photons was produced. When the gas pressure of NH3 increased, the interaction of the Raman transitions rose, then the emission was enhanced and the width of spectral lines were broadened. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations.Authors gratifully acknowledge to Mrs. Chen Baoqiong and Prof. Qiu Bingsheng for their technical assistance and helpful discussions.     

Grazing-incidence far-infrared gas laser

First realization of a grazing-incidence gas laser is reported. For this purpose an optically pumped 496 m CH₃F laser is equipped with a cavity consisting of a diffraction grating and a resonant mirror. The observed resonances are interpreted with an approximative theory and related to distributed feedback.     

Measurement of far-infrared optical constants by ATR

Using an optically-pumped far-infrared laser as a light source, the far-infrared optical constants of liquid acetonitrile, methanol, dichloromethane, and chlorobenzene were obtained by measuring the attenuated total reflections of light for two mutually perpendicular polarizations. The ATR prism of hyper-pure silicon was made asymmetric to avoid the effect of the multiple reflection inside the prism.     

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.     

Three photon resonant ionization in atomic potassium via S,P, D and F series Rydberg states

Single colour three photon resonant ionization (2 + 1) is observed in atomic potassium vapour in a heat pipe oven using an excimer laser pumped dye laser. Using wavelengths between 570 nm and 603 nm various²S and²D Rydberg states are populated by two photon excitation. Third photon of the same wavelength ionizes the atoms. Rydberg states up ton ⋍ 50 are observed. Electric field as low as 1 V/cm causes extensive Stark mixing of the states. This results in progressively higher three photon ionization signals via the perturbed²P and²F Rydberg states. The three photon ionization process is studied using both linearly and circularly polarized incident light. The experiment shows qualitatively that the²P Rydberg states are perturbed primarily by the²D states in the prescence of an external electric field and to a much smaller extent by²S states. This is also explained theoretically by calculating the Stark mixing coefficients under the Bates and Daamgard (1949) approximation. Implication for a similar effect in other alkali elements is discussed.     

Revision on the calculation of optically pumped FIR laser spectrum with Doppler broadening and pressure broadening effects

By means of iteration method and also taking into account Doppler broadening and pressure braodening effect of IR pumping laser, the output power density of optically pumped NH₃ molecules FIR laser is calculated by solving density matrix equations of three-level system. The results of theoretical calculation shows that, in comparison with the FIR laser under the assumption of ideal monochromatic IR pumping, the output power density of FIR laser in the case of Doppler broadening and pressure broadening IR pumping decreases much more. Meanwhile, via the revision of Doppler broadening and pressure broadening effect, the theoretical value of optimum operating gas pressure reduces, which is in better agreement with the experimental value. Further study shows that the revision of Doppler broadening effect is more fit for the conventional FIR laser with a 2m sample tuble and the revision of pressure broadening effect is much more suitable for the miniature FIR laser with a short sample tube of 5 to 20cm in length.Supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of P.R.China and the NSF of Guangdong Province.     

Study on the Spectrum of Miniature Optically Pumped NH3 Submillimeter-Wave Laser

By means of an iteration method and taking into account the broadening of the infrared pumping laser, the spectrum of a miniature, optically pumped, superradiant NH₃ submillimeter-wave(SMMW) gas laser pumped by CO₂-10R(8) has been calculated and studied by solving density matrix equations. Experimentally, the interferogram of miniature SMMW laser pumped by a TEA-CO₂ laser with 10R(8) line is measured. This is the first time that the theoretical spectrum has been in good agreement with experimental results.     

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.     

Pump beam propagation in circular waveguides of optically pumped far-infrared lasers

A theory is presented describing the infrared pump beam propagation in circular waveguides of OPFIRLs. Based upon a ray representation of the Gaussian beam, the overall transport of pump power into the gas by nonlinear absorption and into the wall of the waveguide by partial reflections can be balanced. The theory was used to study the typical pumping conditions in OPFIRL and the main results are presented.     

FIR Stark spectroscopy on optically pumped CH3OH laser

An extensive theoretical and experimental analysis of the absorption and emission spectrum of a CH₃OH FIR-laser excited by a conventional CO₂ laser is presented. Particular interest is devoted to the Stark shifts of the pump and lasing lines and to the electric field dependence of the Fir-laser output of the various lines. The offsets with respect to the exciting radiation and the Stark shifts of the IR absorption (pump) lines are measured by means of the transferred Lamb dip technique. The theoretical behaviours of the Stark patterns are calculated for several choices of the quantum numbers and selection rules involved in the transitions. A large variety of experimental results are reported and compared to theory. Non-linear Stark shifts have been observed for the 37.5m FIR laser line and for the IR-pump transitions excited by the 9-P(38) and 10-R(38) CO₂ laser Lines. Line assignments are proposed and new FIR laser lines are reported.     

200mJ光泵浦氨气太赫兹激光器北大核心CSCD

利用光栅选支调谐的TEA CO2激光器作为泵浦源设计了高能量脉冲光泵浦太赫兹激光器。太赫兹激光谐振腔由2m长的石英玻璃管、GaAs泵浦光输入窗和SiO2太赫兹光输出窗组成,氨气充入谐振腔内作为增益介质。太赫兹激光的波长由自主设计的金属线栅F-P干涉仪测量。实验中在多个波长处都获得了强烈的太赫兹光输出,其中151.5μm太赫兹光的输出脉冲能量高达204mJ,对应的泵浦光能量为32J。最后,还给出了利用151.5μm太赫兹光进行透视成像的实验结果。