The energy exchange and the optimum length of the sample tube of opfirl

The energy exchange between the pumping laser and FIR signal in the optically pumped FIR laser (OPFIRL) system was studied. The iteration method has been used to calculate the power density of the pumping and FIR signals at any point along the optical axis of the sample tube. It was found that the power density of the FIR signal did not always increase along the length of the laser tube. There was a maximum FIR power density at the appropriate point in the sample tube. If the distance of maximum power point from the entrance of the OPFIRL tube was taken as the length of sample tube Z_opt, the maximum FIR laser output should be obtained. This was the optimum length of OPFIRL tube. The value of Z_opt was closely related to the parameter of OPFIRL such as the pumping power density, the pumping detuning and the frequency of the FIR laser. The energy-exchange and the maximum output of the fir laser were calculated under the ideal condition.     

Theoretical study of multi-mode optically pumped NH3 FIR laser

The two or multi-mode optically pumped NH₃ FIR laser had been studied theoretically. The NH₃ molecular gas was assumed to be a three-level system and obeyed the time-dependent behavior of the density matrix equations. Considering the situation of playing the two or multi-mode optical pumping and the FIR laser field were same polarized. The gain coefficient and the output FIR power of the system could be calculated by using the iteration method.It had been predicted that the two or multiple longitudinal mode optically pumped NH₃ FIR laser could have a greater output power or higher lasing efficiency than single mode pumped FIR laser under suitable selected operating parameters of laser.Supported by The Education Foundation of PRC.     

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.     

Theoretical Study on the Gain and Tuning Characteristics of Miniature Optically Pumped NH3 Submillimeter Laser

The gain and the tuning characteristics of miniature optically pumped super-radiant NH₃ submillimeter-wave gas laser have been studied theoretically based on the quantum density matrix equations. The density matrix equations of three-level quantum system have been solved, and the gain and the output density versus different frequency detuning of submillimeter laser and infrared pumping laser have been calculated respectively by means of iteration method. The characteristic curves corresponding to ideal monochromatic IR pumping model and broadened IR pumping model have been obtained. Meanwhile, the tuning and the nonlinear properties of the system have been revealed.     

光泵NH3分子远红外激光研究

运用量子系统的密度矩阵理论，采用迭代法计算了光泵ＮＨ３分子远红外超辐射和腔式激光的频谱特性和相应的最佳工作气压。理论计算表明相对于超辐射方式，光泵腔式ＮＨ３分子远红外激光具有宽带辐射以及纵向调谐特性，且总的输出光强在一定条件下得到提高，最佳工作气压也较低。在实验上对ＴＥＡＣＯ２－１０Ｒ（８）和９Ｒ（１６）泵浦的Ｎ 红外超辐射和腔式激光器产生的远红外辐射进行了测量。结果表明理论计算与实验结果相符。     

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     

The Optimum Coupling Coefficient of Optically Pumped NH3 Far-Infrared Cavity Laser

Based on the semiclassical density matrix theory, the optimum output power reflection coefficient (coupling coefficient) of output coupler for optically pumped NH₃ far-infrared (FIR) cavity laser was calculated by means of iteration method. Experimentally, FIR Fabry-Perot cavity laser was designed and constructed by using inductive metallic meshes as couplers, and the measurement showed that the theoretical calculation were in agreement with experimental results.     

Laser induced line narrowing and saturation broadening effects in OPFIRL

The variation of the laser linewidth within an optically pumped NH3 FIR laser has been studied theoretically on the basis of three-level quantum system approach. It has been shown that the activated medium within the sample tube of an optically pumped ASE FIR laser can be divided into three regions: A). Laser induced line narrowing region, in which the FIR laser linewidth is less than Lorentz linewidth; B). Saturation broadening region, in which the power density of the FIR. signal becomes large enough to make saturation effect important and the linewidth broadens; C), Self-absorption narrowing region, in which the pumping energy density is below the threshold, so self-absorption dominates and the linewidth decreases. The necessary linewidth of the OPFIRL can be obtained by appropriate selection of the length of the sample tube.     

Theoretical Study of Optimum Operation of Two-Longitudinal-Mode Optically Pumped Miniature FIR Laser

Based on the semi-classical density matrix equation, the optimum operation of two-longitudinal-mode optically pumped miniature FIR laser was studied theoretically. The relations and the contributions to FIR laser output power of the laser structural parameters and operating parameters were calculated and discussed.     

Theoretical Study of Optically Pumped NH3 Far-Infrared Laser in Vibrational Ground State

In this paper, the density matrix equation of three-level system for far-infrared (FIR) Raman transition in vibrational ground state was solved. By means of iteration method and numerical calculation, the spectral characteristics of NH₃ molecules FIR laser with TEA CO₂-10R(14) laser pumping was studied theoretically. The theoretical result would help us to understand the physical mechanism of optically pumped molecular gases FIR laser with ground-state reversal transition.     

Study of the saturation effect and output power of optically pumped FIR laser

In this paper, the density matrix equation of a six-level system has been solved, in case of the FIR wave signals in the system were not small enough to be neglected. The output power density of the laser system has been calculated by means of the iteration method. The saturation effect of the system has been revenled by the numerical calculation. Several sets of curves of laser output power vs, the length of laser with defferent pumping detuning and the optimum operating pressure under certain condition have been obtained. These calculated values were in good agresment with the data provided in the literatures.     

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.     

A Revisory Mathematical Model on Optically Pumped Far-Infrared Laser

In an optically pumped far-infrared laser (OPFIRL) system, the infrared (IR) pumping laser with collision broadening which was closer to the practice was considered. A more precise mathematical model was set up. When the IR pumping laser line had the Lorentz function structure, by solving the semi-classic density matrix equations, the generalized form of FIR signal gain Gs and IR pumping signal absorption coefficient Gp were obtained.     

Spectral Characteristics Comparison of Pulsed Optically Pumped NH3 and CH3OH Far-Infrared Laser

By solving the density matrix equations of a quantum system, the output power intensity of pulsed optically pumped NH3 and CH3OH far-infrared laser (OPFIRL) was calculated respectively by means of iteration method. Based on the calculations, the spectral characteristics of pulsed NH3-OPFIRL and CH3OH-OPFIRL were studied and compared theoretically. The differences of spectral characteristics between the NH3-OPFIRL and CH3OH-OPFIRL were found. Experimentally, a series of FIR emissions of NH3 and CH3OH cavity lasers pumped by TEA-CO2 laser were measured, and the experimental results were in agreement with theoretical calculations.     

Theory of tunable FIR laser

Tunable properties of optically pumped FIR lasers have been studied on the basis of sixlevel quantum system approach. The signal flow graph method was used to solve the density matrix equations. A set of tuning characteristic curves has been obtained in good agreement with the experimental results for optically pumped HF FIR lasers given by A. de Martino et al.     

光泵重水气体产生THz激光的半经典理论分析

从半经典密度矩阵理论出发，采用三能级系统模型对光泵重水气体产生太赫兹激光进行了理论分析，求解得到了脉冲光泵重水气体分子产生太赫兹激光过程中激光信号增益系数G_s和抽运光信号被吸收系数G_p的表达式，通过迭代法对太赫兹激光信号的输出光强进行了数值计算，理论计算得到的频谱特性曲线完全符合受激Raman辐射的频谱特性，即频谱宽度较大、输出光强随抽运失谐量的改变而变化明显等特征.在脉冲激光抽运受激Raman辐射过程中，工作介质D₂O气体分子的偶极矩由于受到抽运脉冲光场的扰动发生变化，在频谱特性曲线中表现为受激辐射THz信号的谱线发生了分裂.理论计算结果与已报道的实验结果能较好地相符.     

Application of the opto-acoustic effect to the operation of optically pumped far-infrared gas lasers

A method is reported which allows the operation of optically pumped farinfrared (FIR) gas lasers in a simple way: A spectrophone is used to control and to stabilize the pump laser frequency in order to achieve most efficient optical pumping of the FIR laser gas.     

Optically pumped far infrared lasers

The far-infrared (FIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum is commonly thought of as the wavelength region ≈ 30μm-≈2 mm. Thus, the FIR wavelength region is located between the more familiar areas of microwaves and optics. Primarily due to the lack of FIR sources and detectors, the FIR region is difficult to access and therefore relatively unexplored and unused. The FIR source problem is presently under attack from neighbouring disciplines; from the microwave side by extending the frequency operating range of classical electron tube oscillators (e.g. backward wave oscillators) and semiconductor devices (e.g. IMPATT and quantum well oscillators) and from the optical side primarily by optically pumped molecular gas lasers.The FIR technology evolution accelerated in the mid 60's with the discovery of the discharge pumped hydrogen cyanide laser, lasing at a handful of lines located at about 330μm wavelength. However, the most important step towards a useful coherent FIR source was the discovery of the optically pumped FIR laser in 1970. In optically pumped FIR lasers a molecular gas (e.g. methyl fluoride methyl alcohol, formic acid) is pumped by an external laser, usually a carbon dioxide laser. The FIR laser transitions typically takes place between adjacent rotational levels in an excited vibrational state. Today, optically pumped FIR lasers cover the full FIR region by more than one thousand discrete laser lines observed in hundreds of FIR laser media. FIR output powers on the order of 1–100 mW are available from a vast number of laser transitions.Despite the rapid development of semiconductor FIR oscillators the optically pumped FIR laser is still the only practical unit that bridge the full frequency-gap between microwaves and optics. The fact that FIR lasers are considered as local oscillators in space born applications, indicate that FIR laser technology has matured considerably.This survey paper discusses optically pumped FIR lasers from the engineer's point of view: principles of operation, design and characteristics.     

Spikes in raman spectrum of miniature optically pumped NH3 fir laser

In this paper, the semiclassical density matrix equation was solved to calculate the spectral characteristics of V₂:a--sR(0,0) transition in a miniature optically pumped NH₃ far infrared laser (mini-NH₃-OPFIRL), which was pumped by CO₂-10R(6) line. The results of theoretical calculation showed that the spikes in Raman spectrum of V₂:a--sR(0,0) would appear when the operating NH₃ gas pressure was higher than a certain critical value or pumping power density was lower than a certain critical value, which was caused by Raman processes interaction of AC-Stark splitting. In our experiment, 298 µm FIR spetral line of a--sR(0,0) pumped by a TEA-CO₂ laser with 10R(6) line was observed but the spikes could not be observed owing to the limitation of the resolution of the F-P interferometer.Supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of P.R.China.     

A New Model of Calculating Miniature Optically Pumped Far-Infrared Laser

Considering the broadening of infrared pumping laser, the spectrum of miniature optically pumped superradiant NH₃ far-infrared laser pumped by CO₂-10R(8) has been calculated by solving density matrix equations and using iteration method. It is first time that the theoretical spectrum has been in good agreement with experimental results.