N/sub 2/ excited state absorption in XeF lasers

Journal Article · Mon Oct 06 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.97511· OSTI ID:5261521

Mandl, A; Hyman, H A

The mechanism by which NF/sub 3/ fueled XeF laser mixtures degrade has been identified. The degradation is due to the formation of trace amounts of N/sub 2/ which charge exchange with electron beam excited Ne/sup +//sub 2/ to form N/sup +//sub 2/X/sup 2/..sigma../sup +//sub g/ (v'' -- 3,4). The N/sup +//sub 2/ X/sup 2/ ..sigma../sup +//sub g/ (v'' -- 3,4) absorbs selectively at the 353-nm band but not at the 351-nm band. This has been confirmed experimentally by direct observation of the laser output spectrum which shows a significant decrease of the 353-nm laser band with almost no decrease of the 351-nm bands when N/sub 2/ is added to the laser mixture. A Stern--Volmer analysis of the decreased XeF* emission due to the addition of N/sub 2/ to the laser mixture has been performed and the charge exchange rate between N/sub 2/ and Ne/sup +//sub 2/ of 9 x 10/sup -10/ cm/sup 3//s deduced. The decrease of XeF laser output with N/sub 2/ addition has been measured for both F/sub 2/ and NF/sub 3/ fuels. The results are in good agreement with model calculations using measured and literature values for the reactions.

• Research Organization: Avco Research Laboratory, Inc., Everett, Massachusetts 02149
• OSTI ID: 5261521
• Journal Information: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 49:14; ISSN APPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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