Quasicontinuous lasing on the 4s--3p transition of the sodium atom

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Opt. Spectrosc. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6742441

Mishakov, V G; Tkachenko, T L

The qualitative form of the radial distribution of sodium ions in a high-current discharge in a mixture of gases in the presence and absence of a metallic sodium layer on the surface of the discharge tube is discussed. On the basis of such discussion, a method is proposed for producing a high concentration of sodium ions on the axis of the discharge tube by means of a flux of sodium atoms from its wall. This method produced lasing on the 4s--3p transition of the sodium atom with a duration of 0.01 sec. The characteristics of the behavior of a lasing pulse are studied as a function of current density and shape. It is shown that quasicontinuous lasing exists only in the presence of a metallic sodium layer on the surface of the discharge tube and at current densities in the 80--140-A/cm/sup 2/ range. The lasing duration achieved is not the maximum, and it is limited by the capacity of the capacitor bank discharged through the tube.

• Research Organization: United Technologies Research Center, Silver Lane, E. Hartford, Connecticut 06108
• OSTI ID: 6742441
• Journal Information: Opt. Spectrosc. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Opt. Spectrosc. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 64:3; ISSN OPSUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALKALI METALS
ATOMS
DESIGN
ELECTRON TUBES
ELEMENTS
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GAS DISCHARGE TUBES
GAS LASERS
LASERS
LAYERS
METALS
PULSES
SODIUM