Scaling laws for the atomic Xe laser in Ne/Ar/Xe and He/Ar/Xe gas mixtures
- Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States); and others
The atomic Xe laser oscillates on 6 transitions (1.73 {mu}m - 3.7 {mu}m) between the 5d and 6p manifolds. Ar/Xe gas mixtures usually produce the highest laser efficiencies at 1.73 {mu}m, however gas heating from energy loading can reduce or terminate laser output due to an increase in the electron density. One is therefore motivated to increase the gas pressure by adding a lighter rare gas (He or Ne). The scaling of the atomic Xe laser using Ne/Ar/Xe and He/Ar/Xe gas mixtures have been investigated using a computer model. Addition of Ne significantly alters the kinetic pathways leading to increased pumping of the 6p manifold by dissociative recombination of Xe{sub 2}{sup +} thereby decreasing laser power. Increasing the heat capacity of the mixture by adding Ne can regain some of this loss at high energy loading. He addition is less disruptive with respect to the ion chemistry, but preferential quenching of the lower laser levels causes osciallation to be dominantly at 2.03 {mu}m.
- OSTI ID:
- 127965
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-920376-; ISSN 0003-0503; TRN: 95:007049-0243
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Vol. 37, Issue 9; Conference: Meeting of the American Physical Society, Indianapolis, IN (United States), 16-20 Mar 1992; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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