Population Inversions in Laser-Initiated Vacuum Arcs.
Abstract
Population inversions were studied in laser initiated vacuum arcs. Inversion mechanisms include three body recombination pumping in expanding, laser produced plasmas, and resonant photoexcitation using line radiation. Significant gain was measured on the Balmer lines H sub alpha and H sub beta in expanding, laser produced plasmas of carbon/polyethylene. Research then focused on resonant photoexcitation of one ion by line radiation from another ion. Fluorescence was measured at UV wavelengths in CII pumped by Al III. A new class of photoexcited lasers was identified, in Be like ions, with wavelengths from 2177A in C III pumped by Mn VI, to 200 A in Mg IX pumped by Al XI. Fluorescence and small signal gain were measured in C III pumped by Mn VI. Finally, laser oscillation was demonstrated in C III at 2177 and 2163A. These are the first UV lasers to be pumped by resonant photoexcitation. By isoelectronic scaling, it should be possible to produce soft X-ray lasers using the principles elucidated by this research. Photopumped lasers could prove to be the most efficient soft X ray lasers in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 17, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA170811
Entities
People
- Gary L Haller
- Mahadevan Krishnan
Organizations
- Yale University