Multi-quantum excitation in optically pumped alkali atom: rare gas mixtures

K. L. Galbally-Kinney; W. T. Rawlins; S. J. Davis

doi:10.1117/12.2040023

3 March 2014 Multi-quantum excitation in optically pumped alkali atom: rare gas mixtures

K. L. Galbally-Kinney, W. T. Rawlins, S. J. Davis

Proceedings Volume 8962, High Energy/Average Power Lasers and Intense Beam Applications VII; 896206 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2040023
Event: SPIE LASE, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) technology offers a means of achieving high-energy gas laser output through optical pumping of the D-lines of Cs, Rb, and K. The exciplex effect, based on weak attractive forces between alkali atoms and polarizable rare gas atoms (Ar, Kr, Xe), provides an alternative approach via broadband excitation of exciplex precursors (XPAL). In XPAL configurations, we have observed multi-quantum excitation within the alkali manifolds which result in infrared emission lines between 1 and 4 μm. The observed excited states include the 4²F_J states of both Cs and Rb, which are well above the two-photon energy of the excitation laser in each case. We have observed fluorescence from multi-quantum states for excitation wavelengths throughout the exciplex absorption bands of Cs-Ar, Cs-Kr, and Cs-Xe. The intensity scaling is roughly first-order or less in both pump power and alkali concentration, suggesting a collisional energy pooling excitation mechanism. Collisional up-pumping appears to present a parasitic loss term for optically pumped atomic systems at high intensities, however there may also be excitation of other lasing transitions at infrared wavelengths.

Citation Download Citation

K. L. Galbally-Kinney, W. T. Rawlins, and S. J. Davis "Multi-quantum excitation in optically pumped alkali atom: rare gas mixtures", Proc. SPIE 8962, High Energy/Average Power Lasers and Intense Beam Applications VII, 896206 (3 March 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2040023

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