Discharge pumped iodine monofluoride laser: operating parameters and collisional kinetics

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5445059

Dlabal, M L

Lasing has been observed at five different wavelengths ranging from 472 to 497 nm from discharge pumped iodine monofluoride (IF). At the optimum output coupling 4 mJ was measured in a 30 ns FWHM pulse with a peak power of 140 kW. The merits and deficiencies of both HI and CF/sub 3/I as iodine donors are discussed. Measurements show the small signal gain to be greater than or equal to 1% cm/sup -1/ from approx. 478 to 497 nm, while much of the absorption is due to excited state of He. Limited line tunability is also demonstrated by using an internally mounted Littrow prism. Quenching measurements of the upper and lower laser level show the lower level to be removed more rapidly, thereby avoiding bottlenecking. In addition, the upper level spontaneous emission lifetime is measured to be 17.2 +- 4.0 ns. Finally studies of the formation kinetics of the upper laser level of IF have shown I*(/sup 4/P) atoms to be an immediate precursor, while the F*(/sup 4/P) atoms are unimportant.

• OSTI ID: 5445059
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFICATION
DATA
ELECTRICAL PUMPING
ENERGY
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAIN
GAS LASERS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IODINE COMPOUNDS
IODINE FLUORIDES
LASERS
NUMERICAL DATA
OPERATION
POWER
PUMPING
WAVELENGTHS