Alkali Metal Diffuse Band Lasers.

Abstract

Progress is described on study of a new class of potential excimer lasers based on diffuse bands of the alkali metal vapors. In particular, the violet diffuse bands of sodium vapor and the yellow diffuse bands of potassium vapor have been shown by detailed modeling of single vibrational-rotational level emission to be each composed of overlapping singlet and triplet 'excimer' emission continua of the diatomic molecule. The gain and low absorption loss previously found in the violet and yellow with laser optical pumping of sodium vapor and potassium vapor, respectively, have been quantitatively examined. Prospects for laser oscillation appear to be good at low pressures where quenching is not dominant. Free-bound-free spectra (which include only the triplet portion of the diffuse bands) have been produced and analyzed in sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium. Keywords: Excimer, Lasers, Singlet.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 12, 1987
Accession Number
ADA190244

Entities

People

  • William C. Stwalley

Organizations

  • University of Iowa

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Alkali Metals
  • Chemistry
  • Dye Lasers
  • Electronic States
  • Energy Transfer
  • Laser Applications
  • Laser Dyes
  • Laser Science
  • Liquid Dye Lasers
  • Metals
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Scientific Research
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy
  • Students
  • Universities

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers