An experimental study on ultrafast lamps for an ultraviolet solid state laser
Year: 2005
Authors: Alderighi D., Toci G., Vannini M.
Autors Affiliation: IFAC-CNR Sezione Laser e Applicazioni, Via Madonna del Piano, 50019, Sesto Fiorcntino (FI), Italy
Abstract: In this work we present an accurate experimental study of Xenon filled flash-lamps developed to achieve a fast submicrosecond light pulse with high emission in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral range. This study has been initiated to obtain an efficient pump for solid state lasers with Ce3+ activated crystal as active medium. For Ce3+doped tluorides the absorption bands lie in the UV spectrum, in the region between 248 and 288nm. Due to the very short lifetime (~40ns) of the upper level of the laser transition (5d?4f). Cerium activated hosts must be pumped with a fast rising light pulse. To our best knowledge, no direct ultraviolet laser action from a Ce3+ activated host with incoherent pumping has been reported. To achieve a threshold population inversion, an unusually fast lamp pulse is required making necessary the development of a lamp system opposite to what it is usually required in terms of duration and stability. We present here a detailed characterization of the lamp and of the discharge circuit parameters. Furthermore we discuss the opportunity to use an excimer mixture or a Silicon-Xenon based gas mixture to optimize the spectral coupling of lamp emission to the active medium adsorption.
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KeyWords: Cerium; Electric lamps; Laser pulses; Light absorption; Pumping (laser); Solid state lasers; Ultraviolet radiation, Lamp system; Spectral range; Ultrafast flash-lamp; UV-Cerium lasers, Ultrafast phenomenaDOI: 10.1117/12.633726