A Plasma Ultraviolet Source for Short Wavelength Lasers.

Abstract

A dense plasma focus (DPF) device was evaluated for the feasibility of blue-green and near ultraviolet laser pumping. As the result of optimizing the operating conditions of DPF and laser system, the maximum untuned laser output exceeded 4.0mJ corresponding to the energy density 8.3J/liter which is much higher than the typical flashlamp dye laser. The spectral irradiance of DPF at the absorption bands for LD390 and LD490 were 5.5W/sq cm-nm, 0.3W.sq cm-nm, respectively. Due to the lower pump power of DPF at 355nm than the threshold of LD390, the laser pumping of LD390 dye was not achieved. A hard core flashlamp (HCF) which has a coaxial geometry and array of inverse pinches was also evaluated for blue-green and near uv laser excitation. The short pulse (>0.5us) surface discharges were produced across the core insulator of alumina. The spectral irradiance of the HCF depends on argon fill gas pressure and the core insulating material. The maximum radiative output of the HCF lie in the region of 340-400nm (absorption band of LD490). A LD490 dye laser pumped by a HCF prototype device had an output of 0.9mJ with a pulse of 0.5 microsec (full width at half maximum).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 1988
Accession Number
ADA192844

Entities

People

  • K. S. Han

Organizations

  • Hampton University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Converters
  • Dye Lasers
  • Laser Pumping
  • Laser Science
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Light Sources
  • Liquid Dye Lasers
  • Photographs
  • Quantum Electronics
  • Radiation
  • Scientists
  • Short Wavelengths
  • Spectra
  • Students
  • Ultraviolet Lasers
  • Vacuum Chambers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics