Active Laser and Raman Materials for 1.3-5 Micron Spectral Range

Abstract

This report results from a contract tasking General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences as follows: The spectral range of 4 - 5 microns is one of the most interesting atmospheric optical transmission windows. High peak power laser sources operating in this region are of special importance for various lidar applications. Solid state lasers with their compactness, high efficiency, and reliability in rugged conditions are quite promising for these purposes. Active laser materials for the mid-IR spectral range (1.3-5 microns), based on rare-earth doped heavy metal fluoride, chloride, and sulfide crystals and glasses will be developed, synthesized, studied, and tested. Selective laser pumping, laser oscillation, fluorescence decay and spectral measurements as well as radiative and nonradiative transitions calculations and optimization will be done. Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) nonlinear process was discovered in 1962 at the beginning of the laser era. Now application of solid-state Raman materials for stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is one of the most perspective ways to develop high-gain, reliable, and small-size devices for shifting laser radiation frequency in new spectral regions. SRS devices are very promising for covering near and mid-infrared spectral range from 1.3 to 5 microns, which fits a lot of molecular resonances and is one of the best atmospheric windows for laser lidars. Prospective Raman materials for coherent radiation frequency shifting in mid-IR will be studied and developed. Integral and peak Raman scattering cross-section, line broadening, gain, lasing and laser damage threshold measurements will be performed and analyzed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA462147

Entities

People

  • Tasoltan Basiev

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemistry
  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystallography
  • Crystals
  • Diffraction
  • Laser Applications
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Diodes
  • Laser Science
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Materials Science
  • Measurement
  • Optical Materials
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Scattering

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers