Near 16 micron CO.sub.2 laser system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorWilliam F. Krupke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for inducing laser action in CO.sub.2 at a wavelength of 16 microns involving the transition between the 02.sup.0 0 and 01.sup.1 0 states. The population inversion between these two states is achieved by pumping to the 00.sup.0 1 level, suppressing the usual 10.6 micron transition to the 10.sup.0 0 level and encouraging the 9.6 micron transition, thereby populating the 02.sup.0 0 level, as the principal prerequisite for 16 micron laser action between the 02.sup.0 0 and 01.sup.1 0 levels.
Claims19
A method for inducing laser action in CO.sub.2 contained in an optical resonant cavity at a wavelength of near 16 microns involving the transition between the 02.sup.o 0 and 01.sup.1 0 energy levels comprising the steps of:
- pumping the CO.sub.2 to the 00.sup.o 1 energy level, suppressing the 10.6 micron transition to the 10.sup.o 0 energy level while encouraging the 9.6 micron transition thereby populating the 02.sup.o 0 energy level, and allowing the thus populated 02.sup.o 0 energy level to decay to the 01.sup.1 0 energy level causing laser action at a wavelength of near 16 microns.
A near 16 micron laser involving the transition between the 00.sup.o 1 to 02.sup.o 0 to 01.sup.1 0 energy levels of a gaseous lasing medium comprising:
- A vessel containing a gaseous lasing medium selected from the Group consisting of CO.sub.2, N.sub.2 O, OCS, CS.sub.2, and a CO.sub.2 --N.sub.2 --He mixture;
- means for pumping said gaseous medium to the 00.sup.o 1 energy level;
- means positioned externally of said vessel and forming with said vessel an optical resonant cavity;
- and means for suppressing 10.6 micron transition to the 10.sup.o 0 energy level while populating the 02.sup.o 0 energy level, whereby near 16 micron radiation is obtained by decay to the 01.sup.1 0 energy level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.