SOLID STATE LASER EXPLORATIONS.

Abstract

Studies of the excitation of trivalent rare earth ion lasers by cross-pumping in absorption bands associated with color centers in the host crystal were made using ErOF-CaF2. These indicate considerable promise for laser action. Hosts presenting a site of non-cubic symmetry for the fluorescent ions were also investigated. These included SrCl2 and various halofluorides. Such hosts have strong fluorescent transitions of the electric dipole type, and several show strong fluorescence at room temperature. SrCl2, however, shows a strong tendency to cleave under thermal stress. A method of chemically reducing trivalent dysprosium to the divalent state has been found and will be exploited in the futrue. The variation of wavelength and line width with temperature in CaF2:Dy2+ was determined, and this information was applied to several problems concerning laser operation. Frequency shifts of fluorescence and laser output with excitation level were correlated with thermal tuning effects, and threshold measurements with part of the laser crystal shielded were used to gain insight into basic processes. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0435158

Entities

People

  • F. Sterzer
  • J. P. Wittke
  • R. J. Pressley
  • Tom Walsh
  • Z. J. Kiss

Organizations

  • RCA Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Color Centers
  • Crystals
  • Dysprosium
  • Excitation
  • Fluorescence
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Ion Lasers
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Solid State Lasers
  • Stresses
  • Symmetry
  • Thermal Stresses

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers