Excitation processes in the particle beam pumped atomic Ar laser using He/AR mixtures

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Bulletin of the American Physical Society

OSTI ID:67914

Shon, J W; Lape, J M; Kushner, M J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)

The particle beam excited high pressure atomic Ar laser (3d {yields} 3s) using He/Ar gas mixtures operates on at least three infrared transitions (1.27 {mu}m, 1.79 {mu}m, and 2.4 {mu}m) with efficiencies > 1%. The upper laser level of the 1.79 {mu}m transition may be populated by three body recombination of Ar{sup +} and Ar{sub 2}{sup +}, radiative decay, quenching of higher lying excited states, and dissociative recombination of HeAr{sup +}. The branching ratios for these processes in large part determine the dependence of laser performance on gas mixture and pressure. A computer model of the Ar laser using He/Ar mixtures has been developed to investigate excitation mechanisms and methods to optimize the laser`s performance. The model contains 18 atomic levels in Ar to resolve gain on the cited transitions, and uses a Monte Carlo simulation to obtain excitation rates. Results from the model and comparisons to experiment for gain and laser oscillation in fission fragment and e-beam pumped plasmas will be discussed as a function of gas mixture, power and pressure.

• OSTI ID: 67914
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310400--
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal Name: Bulletin of the American Physical Society Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 38; ISSN BAPSA6; ISSN 0003-0503
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
ARGON
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRON BEAM PUMPING
FISSION FRAGMENTS
GAS LASERS