A compact, high-powered far-infrared (FIR) laser

Technical Report · Fri Aug 18 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5522755· OSTI ID:5522755

A compact CO{sub 2}{endash}{sup 13}CH{sub 3}F laser system where the FIR laser cavity is inserted in a pump, three-mirror CO{sub 2} laser cavity, with optically-switched semiconductor cavity-dumping, will be designed and tested. The 1.207 mm cavity-dumped oscillator is expected to be characterized by predominantly single longitudinal mode, narrow linewidth operation and to produce peak powers of order 100 kW in pulses of order 10 ns duration. The 1.2mm wavelength lies in an atmospheric transmission window (1 dB/km at sea level), which opens up the possibility of millimeter-wave space- or ground-based radar and communications systems. The laser can also be used as a FIR spectroscopic source to investigate dynamic properties of elementary excitations of the solid state. Although much progress has been made, the project is behind schedule due to a malfunctioning pump CO{sub 2} laser. An extension has been requested and it is anticipated that testing of the laser system can begin shortly.

• Research Organization: Connecticut Coll., New London, CT (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-87SF17128
• OSTI ID: 5522755
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/17128-T1; ON: DE89016786
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
DATA ACQUISITION
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
GAS LASERS
INFRARED RADIATION
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PROGRESS REPORT
RADAR
RADIATIONS
RANGE FINDERS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
VACUUM SYSTEMS