Chemical pumping of potential visible laser transistions in bismuth monofluoride by thermal dissociation of fluorine azide

Bruce K. Winker; David J. Benard; Tom A. Seder

doi:10.1117/12.18524

1 June 1990 Chemical pumping of potential visible laser transistions in bismuth monofluoride by thermal dissociation of fluorine azide

Bruce K. Winker, David J. Benard, Tom A. Seder

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1225, High-Power Gas Lasers; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.18524
Event: OE/LASE '90, 1990, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

A visible chemical laser on the BiF(A-X) transistions at 430-470 nm can potentially be generated by the interaction of Bi-atoms with metastable species such as NF(a¹Δ). Experiments were performed in which these constituents were obtained in situ by fast pulsed CO₂ laser pyrolysis of FN₃ and Bi(CH₃)₃, respectively. Time-resolved optical diagnostics were used to follow the concentrations of FN₃, NF(a¹Δ), Bi(CH₃)_x, Bi(²D) and BiF(A). The optimal concentrations of FN₃ and Bi(CH₃)₃ were limited by NF(a¹Δ) self-annihilation and Bi(²D) quenching reactions, respectively. The Bi(CH₃)₃ was found to be only 20 % dissociated at the peak of the NF(a¹Δ) time profile and the yield of Bi-atoms from dissociated Bi(CH₃)₃ was determined to be approximately 5%; however, significant recycling of the active Bi/BiF species was observed at a limiting rate of 4 - 5 x 10-11 cm³/s, driven by NA(a¹Δ). On the basis of these results, a peak BiF(A) concentration of 10¹³/cm³ was predicted by kinetic modeling and subsequently observed. The model also predicts an absolute population inversion of the BiF(A-X) transistion at high NF(a¹Δ) concentration with unsaturated gains of approximately 10^-3/cm. Intracavity experiments have verified that the BiF(X) ground state concentration is low enough relative to the excited state to generate at least a partial inversion, and initial evidence for an absolute population inversion has been obtained.

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Bruce K. Winker, David J. Benard, and Tom A. Seder "Chemical pumping of potential visible laser transistions in bismuth monofluoride by thermal dissociation of fluorine azide", Proc. SPIE 1225, High-Power Gas Lasers, (1 June 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.18524

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