LIQUID LASER PARAMETERS
Abstract
This program was designed to study the influence of chemical and physical environmental factors upon the intensity, efficiency, and lifetime of rare earth phosphorescence in liquid systems. The objective of this program was the development of criteria for the selection of optimum coordinating ligands, counter ions and solvents for rare earths so that useful and efficient high power solution lasers could be developed. A large number of rare earth coordination compounds were synthesized and studied both in the solid state and in solution. A considerable amount of useful information was compiled for systems in which lasing could be accomplished through direct optical excitation of the rare earth. It was concluded that light atoms such as hydrogen and deuterium which would contribute to high-energy vibrational frequencies must be removed from the immediate ligand field surrounding the rare earth ion. Vibrational frequencies in the ligand or coordinating solvent should closely match the energy gaps between the initially excited optically pumped level and the emitting level in order to efficiently populate that level by a cascade process. These same vibrational frequencies, however, must be sufficiently different from the frequency of lasing radiation so as not to promote non- radiative transitions from the emitting level. As a direct result of this work, a very highly promising liquid laser system, neodymium oxide dissolved in a mixture of phosphorus oxychloride and tin tetrachloride, was developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 25, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0679588
Entities
People
- Daniel Grafstein
- Robert Bames
- William Block