Abstract
Lasing on the D1 transition (62P1/2→ 62S1/2) of Cs has been observed by photoassociating Cs-Kr atomic pairs with a tunable, pulsed dye laser. Pumping of the blue or red satellites of the Cs D2 line (62P3/2⇆6 2S1/2), peaking at ∼841.1 nm and ∼853 nm (respectively) in Cs/Kr/C2H6 gas mixtures, provides a photodissociation laser in which the CsKr excimer parent molecule is not, at any point in the pumping process, in a bound electronic state. Relative to the absorbed pump pulse energy, laser slope efficiencies ≳5% have been measured when the Cs number density is in the range of 5 x 1014-1.5 x 10 15 cm-3 and the pump wavelength is 841.1 nm. Direct photoexcitation of the Cs 62P3/2 state at 852.1 nm under these conditions is a less efficient pathway for pumping the 894.3 nm laser, presumably as a result of competing nonlinear optical processes such as 1+2 resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization of the alkali atom.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3638-3640 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Optics Letters |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics