Theoretical and experimental study of uv lasers in Be-like ions pumped by resonant photoexcitation
A uv laser based on resonant photoexcitation is described. This type of laser is a prototype for soft-x-ray lasers in isoelectronic analogs. Intense, Mn VI--line radiation at 310 A from a CO/sub 2/-laser-produced plasma was used to resonantly pump CIII ions, in an adjacent vacuum-arc discharge, from the 2s/sup 2/ ground state to the 2s4p upper level. Electron collisions rapidly redistribute the population of the pumped 4p level among other n = 4 levels. Enhanced fluorescence coincident with the Mn VI--line radiation was observed on many 4-3 transitions in CIII. To describe the kinetics in C III ions, a 72-level collisional radiative model was constructed with up-to-date atomic data. Measured values of electron density and temperature in the C and Mn plasmas were used as inputs to the model. To verify this model, the populations of excited states in C III ions were measured spectroscopically and compared with predictions. Gain coefficients of about 0.1 cm/sup -1/ were predicted by the model. These gains were found to be consistent with the experiments. Single-pass gain measurements showed that the total gain-length product was 0.5 in two C III lines at 2177 and 2163 A. Laser action at these wavelengths was demonstrated in a resonant Fabry-Perot cavity.
- Research Organization:
- Section of Applied Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
- OSTI ID:
- 6179319
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Vol. 39:9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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