Charge Transfer Pumping of the Helium Nitrogen Laser at Atmospheric Pressures in an Electrical Avalanche Discharge.
Abstract
An Atmospheric Electrical Avalanche (AEA) laser, stabilized by displacement current preionization, has been developed to support the study of the collisional pumping of the N2(+), B yields X, electronic transition by the kinetic step He2(+) + N2 + He yields N2+(B 2 Sigma sub u) + 3He. With proper preionization, the AEA laser has been operated at a PRF of 1 to 30 Hz in an avalanche mode at 100 to 200 A/sq. cm. and E/p of 5 v/cm/torr. At pressures from 1 to 8 atm an essentially uniform, 30 cu. cm. volume containing a high concentration of He2(+) has been produced. Resulting laser output pumped by the charge transfer reaction has exceeded 1MW peak power at 427.8 nm. in a 4 nsec pulse. Efficiency with respect to the electrical power flowing through the laser tube has exceeded 2% and output pulse energies have exceeded 1% of the input pulse of energy dissipated in the laser tube. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA048386
Entities
People
- Carl B. Collins
- J. M. Carroll
- K. N. Taylor
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas