A new midinfrared laser in hydrogen

The basic research program for high energy lasers (HEL) at the U.S. Army Missile Command has had a major task in the area of new laser concepts for future Army HEL applications. A theoretical and experimental program to explore the possibility for developing a storage laser in hydrogen was carried out during FY 80-82 and resulted in the discovery of the laser reported here. The research program on hydrogen as a storage laser for high energy lasers applications has shown that HD certainly cannot be made into a storage laser under the operating conditions we had and perhaps cannot be so made under any circumstance. No conclusion was reached concerning H2/HCl or D2/HCl since serendipity produced a new set of lasers in the course of experiments on these gas mixtures. The new lasers, identified at least in hydrogen as being in the triplet states, may be the first step in successful demonstration of the hydrogen excimer.