Optically pumped ultraviolet and infrared lasers driven by exploding metal films and wires
The 342-nm molecular iodine and 1315-nm atomic iodine lasers have been optically pumped by intense light from exploding-metal-film and exploding-wire discharges. Brightness temperatures for the exploding-film discharges were approx.25,000 K and for the wire discharges were approx.30,000 k. For the I/sub 2/ laser the 3.5-cm diameter by 40-cm long pumped volume lies adjacent to the wire or film of the same length. Pressures of 1-6 torr I/sub 2/ and 1-3 atm SF, CF/sub 4/, or Ar were used in the stainless-steel cell. Using 20-..mu..F capacitance charged to 40 kV, a 0.25-mm tungsten wire, 3-torr I/sub 2/, and a 2-atm SF/sub 6/, an energy of 2 J was obtained from the laser in a pulse of 8-..mu..s duration. The specific output energy was 7 J/l. Substitution of a cylindrical Al film for the wire, under otherwise similar conditions, led to a X10 output energy reduction. With an active volume and wire of 70-cm length greater output energies and efficiencies were obtained with similar input energy. An output pulse of 12 J and 12-..mu..s duration was measured for a specific output energy of 18 J/l. A laser energy of 110 J in a 20-..mu..s-long pulse has been measured from atomic iodine using a wire discharge along the axis of a larger cell. The active volume available was 20 cm in diameter and 80 cm in length. Input energy was 32 kJ. In similar measurements using a cylindrical Al film for discharge initiation, the measured output energy was 40 J. 2 references, 5 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7048428
- Journal Information:
- Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 380
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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