Kinetic model of the sustained discharge HgBr laser

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.332588· OSTI ID:5967195

McGeoch, M W; Hsia, J C; Klimek, D E

A kinetic model of the sustained discharge Ar/HgBr/sub 2/ laser is developed from an experimental base. The choice of Ar as the buffer gas is supported by measurements of the specific fluorescence and laser efficiency in the buffer mixtures (Ar, Ar+5% Xe, Ne+10% Xe, Ne+10% N/sub 2/). A computational treatment of the coupled photon and kinetic equations is described. Gain measurements determine a peak HgBr (B-X) stimulated emission cross section of 1.6 x 10/sup -16/ cm/sup 2/ +- 20% at 502 nm. Absorption measurements between 515 and 530 nm show the presence of a large, broad band absorption tentatively assigned to HgBr/sup +//sub 2/ with a cross section of 2 x 10/sup -18/ cm/sup 2/. An upper bound of 5 x 10/sup -9/ cm/sup 3/ sec/sup -1/ is placed on the rate constant for electron collisional quenching of the HgBr(B) state. The laser extraction efficiency of 65% is modeled by a lower level collisional deactivation by Ar with a rate constant 6.0 x 10/sup -12/ cm/sup 3/ sec/sup -1/. Discharge impedance is measured as a function of E/N and the ionizing electron beam current density. Using the new data a good description of laser efficiency is demonstrated if the ratio of HgBr(B-X) fluorescence power to discharge input electical power is set to 6.1%, for 0.8% HgBr/sub 2/ in Ar at E/N = 8 x 10/sup -17/ V cm/sup 2/.

• Research Organization: Avco Everett Research Laboratory, Incorporated, Everett, Massachusetts 02149
• OSTI ID: 5967195
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 54:7; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ABSORPTION
AMPLIFICATION
BROMIDES
BROMINE COMPOUNDS
BUFFERS
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
FLUORESCENCE
GAIN
GAS LASERS
GASES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
LASERS
LUMINESCENCE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MERCURY BROMIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
NEON
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
SCINTILLATION QUENCHING
STIMULATED EMISSION
VISIBLE RADIATION
XENON