OPTICAL INTERACTIONS IN RUBY LASERS.
Abstract
The report concerns the initial stages of an investigation into the efficiency of ruby lasers, and the kinetics of energy level populations generated by optical pumping. The work described includes the calibration of absolute spectral response of photodetectors, the measurement of ground state absorption cross sections, and the metastable state absorption cross section at selected wavelengths; also described are the preliminary experiments involving end pumping by ion laser radiation at 5682 A. Efficiency measurements at high metastable state populations could not be made with the ion laser power levels available. Calculations based on the absorption measurements, however, indicate a strong wavelength and polarization dependence of overall pumping efficiency in ruby lasers, with metastable state absorption playing an important role in heat input to ruby during pumping. The effectiveness of high pressure mercury discharges for cw pumping is clarified by this analysis. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0653218
Entities
People
- Fred C. Unterleitner
- Ying C. Kiang
Organizations
- General Dynamics