Short-pulse multiline and multiband energy extraction in high-pressure CO/sub 2/-laser amplifiers

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1973.1077412· OSTI ID:7285700

Feldman, B J

The ability of a nanosecond or shorter CO/sub 2/-laser pulse consisting of a single vibrational--rotational transition to extract energy from an atmospheric-pressure CO/sub 2/ amplifier is limited owing to the finite rotational thermalization time in CO/sub 2/ and the larger number of rotational states which share the stored energy. Theoretical studies are reported which indicate that utilizing an incident pulse consisting of several vibrational--rotational lines within the 10.6-..mu.. band substantial improvements can be obtained over single-line extraction. Even more dramatic improvements are possible if the pulse contains vibrational--rotational transitions at both the 10.6- and 9.6-..mu.. bands. Quantitative energy-extraction results are presented for an input Gaussian pulse consisting of 1--5 10.6-..mu.. transitions, and for a pulse containing one line at 9.6 ..mu.. and one at 10.6 ..mu.., traversing a 1-m amplifier, for a wide range of input energies, pulsewidths, and gas pressures. Possibilities of using multiband techniques for pulse shaping are also discussed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM
• OSTI ID: 7285700
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. QE-9:11; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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