Title :
An optically pumped mid-infrared HBr laser
Author :
Miller, Harold C. ; Radzykewycz, Dan T., Jr. ; Hager, Gordon
Author_Institution :
USAF Philips Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM, USA
fDate :
10/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The results of experiments on a pulsed optically pumped vibrational transition HBr laser are discussed. In these experiments, rotation-vibration transitions in the first overtone band near 2 μm are pumped with an optical parametric oscillator. Lasing is generated in (2,1) band transitions near 4 μm. The laser performance is governed by gas phase kinetic processes, which redistribute the absorbed pump energy during the evolution of the laser pulse. A maximum 4-μm output energy of 0.85 mJ was obtained with 3.47 mJ of absorbed pump energy
Keywords :
chemical lasers; hydrogen compounds; laser transitions; molecular rotation-vibration; optical parametric oscillators; optical pumping; (2,1) band transitions; 0.85 mJ; 2 mum; 4 mum; HBr; absorbed pump energy; first overtone band; gas phase kinetic processes; laser performance; laser pulse; mid-infrared HBr laser; optical parametric oscillator; optically pumped; output energy; pulsed optically pumped vibrational transition HBr laser; rotation-vibration transitions; Chemical lasers; Gas lasers; Laser excitation; Laser radar; Laser transitions; Nonlinear optics; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Optical resonators; Pump lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
