Title :
Studies of CW laser oscillation on the 1315-nm transition of atomic iodine pumped by O2(a1Δ) produced in an electric discharge
Author :
Carroll, David L. ; Verdeyen, Joseph T. ; King, Darren M. ; Zimmerman, Joseph W. ; Laystrom, Julia K. ; Woodard, Brian S. ; Benavides, Gabriel F. ; Richardson, Nathan R. ; Kittell, Kirk W. ; Solomon, Wayne C.
Author_Institution :
CU Aerosp., Champaign, IL, USA
Abstract :
In this paper, we report on studies of a continuous-wave laser at 1315 nm on the I(2P12/)→I(2P32/) transition of atomic iodine where the O2(a1Δ) used to pump the iodine was produced by a radio frequency excited electric discharge. The electric discharge was sustained in He-O2 and Ar-O2 gas mixtures upstream of a supersonic cavity which is employed to lower the temperature of the continuous gas flow and shift the equilibrium of atomic iodine in favor of the I(2P12/) state. The results of experimental studies for several different flow conditions, discharge arrangements, and mirror sets are presented. The highest laser output power obtained in these experiments was 520 mW in a stable cavity composed of two 99.995% reflective mirrors.
Keywords :
chemical lasers; discharges (electric); iodine; laser cavity resonators; laser mirrors; laser transitions; oxygen; 1315 nm; 520 mW; O2-I2; atomic iodine transition; continuous wave laser oscillation; electric discharge; laser output power; reflective mirrors; supersonic cavity; Atom lasers; Atomic beams; Atomic measurements; Fluid flow; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Mirrors; Pump lasers; Radio frequency; Temperature; Chemical oxygen–iodine laser (COIL); electriCOIL; electric discharge oxygen–iodine laser; radio frequency (RF) excitation of oxygen; singlet-delta oxygen;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.2005.854316
