Development of a Backward Stimulated Raman Scattering System for Pulse Compression.
Abstract
A Raman pulse compression system utilizing backward stimulated Raman scattering (BSRS) within a methane gas cell six feet in length was built and tested. A 12 MW giant pulse ruby laser with a pulsewidth of 12 ns(FWHM) was focused within the gas cell with a 10 cm focal length lens. The resulting reverse Stokes pulse at 8704 A had a maximum power of 15 MW and a minimum pulsewidth of 800 ps(FWHM). The peak power of the reverse Stokes pulse as well as the threshold power for BSRS were measured as a function of pressure. The shortest and most intense reverse Stokes pulses were obtained in the pressure range of 150 - 175 psi with an input energy of 125 - 160 mJ. The short, intense pulses produced by this system should be useful in the investigation of events occurring on a subnanosecond time scale such as semiconductor carrier diffusion processes. The competing nonlinear processes of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and gas breakdown were also investigated and found to limit the efficiency of this system to 10 percent. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA111173
Entities
People
- William D. Lindsay
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology