Collisional Dynamics, Lasing and Stimulated Raman Scattering in Optically Pumped Cesium and Potassium Vapors

摘要

This dissertation explores collisional dynamics, lasing and stimulated Raman scattering in cesium and potassium vapors. The spin orbit mixing and quenching cross sections of several buffer gas species are measured. The ne-structure mixing cross sections for He, CH4 and C2H6 are 14 + or - 3, 35 + or - 6 and 73 + of - 10 A sq, respectively. The 2P3/2 state is quenched more rapidly than the 2P1/2 state. A pulsed blue laser operating via direct excitation of the cesium 72P3/2 state is demonstrated. A theoretical model is extended and compared with experimental results. The maximum output energy was 3.3 microJoules with a threshold of 10 microJoules/pulse and a slope efficiency of 0.45%. A tuneable hyper Raman potassium vapor laser, tuneable over 4 nm is demonstrated and characterized. The output was tunable from 766-770 nm. The threshold for the hyper-Raman process was 60 mW. The maximum slope efficiency (10.4%) and output power (12 mW) are comparable to previously demonstrated potassium DPAL systems that used several atmospheres of buffer gas.