Pulsed Electrodeless Discharge as a Light Source for Laser Excitation and Observation of the Characteristics of Laser Output

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the characteristics of electrodeless discharge tubes for use in ruby and Nd-glass laser operation. A discharge loop composed of a high-voltage low-inductance capacitor, a 2-3 microhenry primary inductance coil with multiple turns, and a coaxial quartz discharge tube was used. The discharge tube was filled with xenon or argon at 10 mm Hg or more. Discharging period was found to be 10 microsec or more using a type MY-50-3 capacitor of 0.2 microhenry internal inductance. The period can be decreased with a type MY-110-0.022 capacitor. Emission spectra of discharge tubes at various pressures and voltages were obtained with a quartz spectrograph. Analysis was made for emission spike, frequency mode, quasicontinuous damped oscillation, and threshold value of laser output. Application of electrodeless discharge tubes to lasers led to the following conclusions: (1) high-energy input is possible in discharge tubes; (2) repetition frequency of lasers is raised; (3) higher pumping efficiency with higher power can be achieved; (4) the discharge tube has a longer service life; and (5) emission spectra can be matched with absorption bands of various laser materials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 03, 1967
Accession Number
AD0673840

Entities

People

  • Chang Zung-kui
  • Yeh Mow-foh

Organizations

  • Air Force Systems Command

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Capacitance
  • Capacitors
  • Electrodes
  • Emission Spectra
  • Energy
  • Flash Lamps
  • Frequency
  • Glass Lasers
  • High Energy
  • High Voltage
  • Lamps
  • Laser Materials
  • Lasers
  • Light Sources
  • Ruby Lasers
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers