STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION OF LASER CRYSTALS.
Abstract
A detailed discussion of the radiation formed center bands in ruby and sapphire is given together with a detailed study of the optical bleaching of these center bands in ruby produced by pump lamps. In addition, the radiation formed center bands produced by Co60 and Cs137 gamma rays for comparable radiation histories are discussed. Also, effects of Co60 gamma irradiation on the absorption spectra and efficiency of Nd(3+) doped glass laser rods were studied. In many cases a small increase in efficiency of about 12% was found for gamma doses in the range 11,000 - 24,000 R. Extensive absorption spectral studies of the radiation induced absorption bands were made. Beam divergence measurements were made for ruby laser crystals as a function of input energy and Co60 gamma radiation history. It was found that the small increase in beam divergence observed depends more critically on the input energy than on the irradiation history. Some preliminary considerations were made regarding simple quantum mechanical models. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0478077
Entities
People
- Marvin K. Moss
- William R. Davis
Organizations
- North Carolina State University