A model for short pulse absorption in a real SF6 saturable absorber

This paper describes a rate equation model that has been formulated for an SF₆ saturable absorber. The model includes three transitions in the ₃ ladder and one hot band transition along with intramolecular V-V relaxation to the bath states. The coupled differential equations were solved using the Runge-Kutta method. The transmission characteristics have been calculated for several combinations of pulse length, cell length and SF₆ pressure. Theoretical values of transmission are compared with the experimental data of Haglund et al., Taylor et al. and Daido et al., and it is found that the model explains the absorption behaviour more closely.