Research and Study on Pulsed CO2, CO2-Helium, and CO2-N2 Lasers.
Abstract
Experimental studies were carried out on laser systems using as constituent gases carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide-nitrogen, and carbon dioxide helium. Laser transitions studied were the vibrational-rotational bands involving transitions of the P and R branches of the 00(0)1 to 10(0)0 and 00(0)1 to 02(0)0 bands of the carbon dioxide molecule. The main effort was directed to the establishment of the excitation mechanisms of the upper laser level and the part played by the added gases -- helium and nitrogen -- in increasing the power output from that of the pure carbon dioxide system. Work was concentrated on the behavior of pulsed systems and the identification of factors affecting peak power output. A technique was developed for investigating the power output after termination of the excitation pulse. This consisted of pulsing an electrical source for gas excitation with an arrangement such that a variable delay was available between the excitation pulse and the time of alignment of one of the cavity mirrors. A detector sensitive to the optically allowed radiation from the upper laser level to ground was used to observe the number of molecules in the upper level as a function of time. Observations made in conjunction with a Q-switch pulse allowed the absolute numbers of molecules in the upper and lower laser levels to be determined. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 21, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0842835
Entities
People
- William B. Mcknight