POPULATION INVERSION BETWEEN BOUND AND REPULSIVE MOLECULAR ELECTRONIC STATES BY TWO-TEMPERATURE EQUILIBRIUM
Abstract
The well known uv emission continuum of molecular h which results from transitions between a to the 3rd power sigma sub g + and b to the 3rd power sigma sub u + electronic states is suggested as a transition for a high power, uv, gas laser. In an electric arc, collisions of hot electrons with ground state molecules populate these 2 states. The populations can be inverted because of the favorable ratio of lifetimes of the two states. The upper state has a radiative lifetime of about 10 to the -8th power sec; the lower state is repulsive and dissociates in less than 10 to the -13th power sec. Steady state inversion can be achieved by maintaining the heavy particle temperature below the electron temperature and by maintaining the h atom concentration below the equilibrium value corresponding to the electron temperature. This suppresses the population of the lower state by reducing the rate of recombination of ground state atoms into the repulsive state.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0421437
Entities
People
- D. A. Leonard
- J. C. Keck
- M. M. Litvak