CHEMICAL LASER PUMP,
Abstract
The sharply defined bright zone produced by the detonation of a cyanogen-oxygen mixture in small test vehicles looks promising as a pump for solid-state lasers such as neodymium-doped glass and ruby. Brightness temperatures between 6000 to 7000 K are routinely obtained. By adding inert depants such as argon, xenon and helium to the mixture, brightness temperatures in the vicinity of 8000K have been attained. The combustion or detonation that takes place within the test vehicle is completely contained, produces no noise, and can non-destructively pump a laser. Extensive experimentation with test vehicles to control the detonation wave has improved the brightness and duration of the source. A new fixture has been recently tested. This fixture solves the optical coupling problem by creating an implosion which results in a bright detonation zone approaching the center of the fixture from two opposite directions. The laser rod is located at the center of the fixture and receives the pumping light from both directions. Probe measurements show the light produced in this fixture has a brightness temperature in excess of 7000K and a duration in excess of 200 microseconds. Strong pumping of a neodymium-glass laser rod was accomplished with this fixture, and high order lasing was observed. Future plans with this fixture will include attempts to pump a ruby laser, more strongly to obtain above threshold outputs. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0634655
Entities
People
- John L. Wright
Organizations
- Picatinny Arsenal