Wavelength diversity in optically pumped alkali vapor lasers

Glen P. Perram

doi:10.1117/12.2256256

13 January 2017 Wavelength diversity in optically pumped alkali vapor lasers

Glen P. Perram

Proceedings Volume 10254, XXI International Symposium on High Power Laser Systems and Applications 2016; 102540Q (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2256256
Event: XXI International Symposium on High Power Laser Systems and Applications, 2016, Gmunden, Austria

Abstract

Alternative wavelengths for optically pumped alkali vapor lasers have been developed using single photon excitation of higher lying P-states, stimulated Raman processes, two-photon excitation of S and D states, and electric quadruple excitation on S-D transitions. Two photon excitation of Cs 7²D leads to competing and cascade lasing producing red and infrared lasers operating on the D-P transitions, followed by ultraviolet, blue, the standard near infrared DPAL transitions operating on P-S transitions. The S-D pump transitions are fully bleached at pump intensities exceeding 1 MW/cm², allowing for lasing transitions that terminate on the ground state. The kinetics of these systems are complex due to competition for population inversion among the many optical transitions. An optically pumped mid-infrared rubidium pulsed, mirrorless laser has also been demonstrated in a heat pipe along both the 6²P_3/2 - 6²S_1/2 transition at 2.73 μm and the 6²P_1/2 - 6²S_1/2 transition at 2.79 μm with a maximum energy of ~100 nJ. Performance improves dramatically as the rubidium vapor density is increased, in direct contradiction with the prior work. No scaling limitations associated with energy pooling or ionization kinetics have been observed. Practical application for infrared counter measures depends on the further development of blue diode pump sources. Finally, stimulated electronic Raman scattering and hyper-Raman processes in potassium vapor near the D₁ and D₂ lines have been observed using a stable resonator and pulsed laser excitation. First and second order Stokes and anti-Stokes lines were observed simultaneously and independently for a pump laser tuning range exceeding 70 cm^-1. When the pump is tuned between the K D₁ and D₂ lines, an efficient hyper-Raman process dominates with a slope efficiency that exceeds 10%. Raman shifted laser may be useful as a target illuminator or atmospheric compensation beacon for a high power diode pumped alkali laser.

Citation Download Citation

Glen P. Perram "Wavelength diversity in optically pumped alkali vapor lasers", Proc. SPIE 10254, XXI International Symposium on High Power Laser Systems and Applications 2016, 102540Q (13 January 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2256256

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