Time-resolved spectroscopic study of high-pressure self-sustained discharge-pumped atomic xenon lasers
Abstract
To explore the lasing kinetics of UV-preionized, self-sustained discharge-pumped atomic xenon (5d - 6p) lasers, the time-resolved spectroscopy of the laser output from the multiline laser resonator is reported. The diluents used were Ar and He. With the Ar diluent, the 1.73-micron line occupied more than 90 percent of the total laser output energy, which can therefore characterize the total output performance. Increasing Xe concentration shortened the 1.73-micron laser pulse duration and decreased the total (multiline) laser output energy, because increased Xe metastable state population contributes to the increase of the 6p state population (lower laser level) by electron-impact excitation and radiation trapping during discharge pumping. High-excitation-rate pumping resulted in the decrease of the laser output power of 1.73- and 2.63-micron lines. Increasing the total gas pressure leads to high-efficiency operation due to modest-excitation-rate pumping at high pressures. The increase of the total laser energy observed while replacing He by Ar is mainly attributed to the buildup of the 1.73-micron line and reduction of the 2.03-micron line.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
- Pub Date:
- January 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1109/3.73545
- Bibcode:
- 1991IJQE...27...90K
- Keywords:
-
- Gas Lasers;
- Laser Cavities;
- Laser Outputs;
- Laser Pumping;
- Xenon;
- Atomic Energy Levels;
- Electron Beams;
- Gas Mixtures;
- Ultraviolet Radiation;
- Lasers and Masers