Population Inversion in a Pulsed Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen and Helium Discharge.
Abstract
Measurements of the gain in an amplifier discharge tube containing a fixed composition, 1:1.5:5.6 CO2-N2-He gas were made under both ac exicted and pulse discharge conditions. While the ac gain results indicated a possible increase in gain with increasing current densities, the pulsed discharge experiments failed to bear out this extrapolation. Instead, the gain reaches a limit that is apparently due to the availability of CO2, but persists for 240 to 300 microseconds after the conculsion of the excitation pulse. Population inversion was calculated from the pulsed gain measurements. The results indicate that high-powered laser action cannot be achieved by extension of the linear design used. The results also indicate that experimenters cannot assume the achievement of high-peak-power output based on measured average-power output and the excitation duty cycle. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0735334
Entities
People
- Mortimer H. Zinn
Organizations
- United States Army Communications-Electronics Command