Photoexcitation of lasers and chemical reactions for NASA missions: A theoretical study
Abstract
The possibility of obtaining CW laser oscillation by optical pumping in the infrared at an elevated gas pressure is reviewed. A specific example utilizing a mixture of CO and NO gases is included. The gas pressures considered are in excess of several atmospheres. Laser frequency tuning over a broad region becomes possible at such elevated gas pressures due to collisional broadening of the amplifying transitions. The prior-rate and surprisal analysis are applied to obtain detailed VV and VT rates for CO and NO molecules and the transfer rates in a CO-NO gas mixture. The analysis is capable of giving temperature dependence of the rate constants. Computer estimates of the rates are presented for vibrational levels up to v = 50. The results show that in the high-lying vibrational states the VV transfer rates with Delta nu = 2 become appreciable.
- Publication:
-
Final Report
- Pub Date:
- May 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981ldc..rept.....J
- Keywords:
-
- Excitation;
- Gas Pressure;
- Laser Outputs;
- Optical Pumping;
- Gas Lasers;
- Heterodyning;
- Infrared Spectra;
- Laser Applications;
- Remote Sensing;
- Lasers and Masers