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Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MASER ACTION BETWEEN NUCLEAR STATES

George C. Baldwin, J.P. Neissel, J. H. Terhune, Lewi Tonks

Published Jun 15, 1963• 0 citations
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Abstract

The possibility of a stimulated emission device, analogous to the laser, which can generate radiation at gammaray wavelengths is examined. Lacking reflectors, its operation would consist of multiplication during single passage of photon avalanches initiated by spontaneous emission. The required high concentration of excited states may be obtainable in many nuclides by radiochemical procedures. The maximum possible resonant cross section exceeds ordinary absorption by several orders of magnitude. Only a fraction of the resonant cross-section can be effective, because of line-broadening interactions with the nuclear environment. Singular effects in solids (optical branch excitation, localization of lattice disturbance, or Bragg-angle effects) are suggested that may allow operation at a recoil-displaced energy without population inversion, as alternatives to the Mossbauer effect. An experimental technique for directly measuring the stimulated-emission cross-section by detection of a coherent component in the total radiation is described in some detail. It is concluded that the question of gammamaser feasibility can be conclusively answered only by experiment. (auth)

Related papers

STIMULATED EMISSION OF GAMMA RADIATION

Richard V. Babcock, Stanley L. Ruby, Laurence Mark Epstein

The feasibility of an experimental demonstration of stimulated emission of gamma radiation is examined. Theoretical principles are discussed, and a model described from which the results of stimulated emission experiments can be predicted. Two general types of experiments are selected as most feasible for the demonstration, and the results of these experiments are predicted for those known isomeric nuclear systems that appeared most promising, and also for an ideal nuclear system. It is concluded that for an ideal nucleus the emission rate of stimulated photons could not exceed 10/sup -5/ of the spontaneous photon emission rate. For the most favorable nuclear system found, the predicted increase in emission rate is only 3 x 10/sup -9/. The observation of such small effects appears thoroughly impractical, either now or in the foreseeable future. The observation of other effects of stimulated emission, such as the detection of paired photons in time coincidence, appears equally difficult. (auth)

•Dec 1, 1963•0 citations

Self-amplified spontaneous gamma-ray emission

Задерновский Анатолий Андреевич

We discuss a possibility for obtaining the self-amplified spontaneous emission of gamma radiation in an active medium with hidden population inversion of nuclear states. Hidden inversion appears in cooled nuclear ensembles due to assistance of the nuclear recoil in emission and absorption of gamma quanta. Establishing a hidden inversion allows an amplification of gamma radiation to occur in a particular frequency range without excess of the number of excited nuclei over the number of unexcited nuclei. We formulate a set of requirements to the pumping radiation and to the amplifying nuclear medium crucial to the development of gamma-ray lasing.

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Tunable Radiation Generated at Wavelengths below 1 Å by Anti-Stokes Scattering from Nuclear Levels

C. B. Collins, Brett D DePaola

This work concerns the demonstration of the feasibility of the tuning and perhaps even stimulation of nuclear radiation. Theory1–3 has indicated that anti-Stokes Raman up- conversion of intense but conventional long-wavelength sources of radiation produced by scattering from isomeric states of nuclear excitation could lead to significant sources of tunable γ radiation characterized by the natural Mossbauer width of the lines. This would result in lines with sub-angstrom wavelengths and widths of a few megahertz. Further computations4 have suggested that this type of coherent, as well as a new type of incoherent, optical pumping could even lead to appreciable levels of inversion of the population of nuclear levels that would be capable of supporting the growth of stimulated γ-ray intensity. Whether these processes can reach threshold depends on the resolution of basic issues lying in an interdisciplinary region between quantum electronics and nuclear physics that have not been previously addressed.

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Feasibility study of a nuclear exciton laser

Nicolai ten Brinke, Ralf Schützhold, Dietrich Habs

Nuclear excitons known from M\"ossbauer spectroscopy describe coherent excitations of a large number of nuclei---analogous to Dicke states (or Dicke super-radiance) in quantum optics. In this paper, we study the possibility of constructing a laser based on these coherent excitations. In contrast to the free-electron laser (in its usual design), such a device would be based on stimulated emission and thus might offer certain advantages, e.g., regarding energy-momentum accuracy. Unfortunately, inserting realistic parameters, the window of operability is probably not open (yet) to present-day technology; but our design should be feasible in the UV regime, for example.

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Optical control of nuclear resonant absorption: theory and experiment

Roman L. Kolesov

Modification of nuclear resonant absorption by means of laser radiation is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. Theoretical analysis is done on the basis of four-level model of atom. This model includes both electronic and nuclear excitations. It is predicted that under coherent laser driving nuclear resonant Mossbauer absorption can be significantly modified, e.g. new Mossbauer resonances can appear, some of the existing resonances can vanish, both can be Rabi-split, broadened by laser action. In addition, it is predicted that Mossbauer absorption can be completely suppressed due to coherent population trapping. Experimental observation of laser-induced transformations of Mossbauer spectra of 57Fe2+ : MgO is accomplished. New Mossbauer lines appear with laser driving while the existing are broadened. Possible explanations of the observed changes in 57Fe2+ : MgO Mossbauer spectra are population of higher-lying electronic states of iron ion and significant modification of electronic relaxation processes due to modified Jahn-Teller interaction.

•Sep 30, 2004•0 citations

Tunable Sub-Angstrom Radiation Generated by Anti-Stokes Scattering from Nuclear Levels

C. B. Collins, Brett D DePaola

This work concerns the demonstration of the feasibility of the tuning and perhaps even stimulation of nuclear radiation. Theory [1-3] has indicated that anti-Stokes Raman upconversion of intense but conventional long wavelength sources of radiation produced by scattering from isomeric states of nuclear excitation could lead to significant sources of tunable y-radiation characterized by the natural Mössbauer width of the lines. This would result in lines with sub-Angstrom wavelengths and widths of a few MHz. Further computations [4] have suggested that this type of coherent, as well as a new type of incoherent, optical pumping could even lead to appreciable levels of inversion of the population of nuclear levels that would be capable of supporting the growth of stimulated y-ray intensity. Whether or not these processes can reach threshold depends upon the resolution of basic issues lying in an interdisciplinary region between quantum electronics and nuclear physics that have not been previously addressed. It was the purpose of this work to study these issues experimentally.

Topical Meeting on Laser Techniques in the Extreme Ultraviolet•Jan 1, 1984•0 citations
The possibility of a stimulated emission device, analogous to the laser, which can generate radiation at gammaray wavelengths is examined. Lacking reflectors, its operation would consist of multiplication during single passage of photon avalanches initiated by spontaneous emission. The required high concentration of excited states may be obtainable in many nuclides by radiochemical procedures. The maximum possible resonant cross section exceeds ordinary absorption by several orders of magnitude. Only a fraction of the resonant cross-section can be effective, because of line-broadening interactions with the nuclear environment. Singular effects in solids (optical branch excitation, localization of lattice disturbance, or Bragg-angle effects) are suggested that may allow operation at a recoil-displaced energy without population inversion, as alternatives to the Mossbauer effect. An experimental technique for directly measuring the stimulated-emission cross-section by detection of a coherent component in the total radiation is described in some detail. It is concluded that the question of gammamaser feasibility can be conclusively answered only by experiment. (auth)
The feasibility of an experimental demonstration of stimulated emission of gamma radiation is examined. Theoretical principles are discussed, and a model described from which the results of stimulated emission experiments can be predicted. Two general types of experiments are selected as most feasible for the demonstration, and the results of these experiments are predicted for those known isomeric nuclear systems that appeared most promising, and also for an ideal nuclear system. It is concluded that for an ideal nucleus the emission rate of stimulated photons could not exceed 10/sup -5/ of the spontaneous photon emission rate. For the most favorable nuclear system found, the predicted increase in emission rate is only 3 x 10/sup -9/. The observation of such small effects appears thoroughly impractical, either now or in the foreseeable future. The observation of other effects of stimulated emission, such as the detection of paired photons in time coincidence, appears equally difficult. (auth)
We discuss a possibility for obtaining the self-amplified spontaneous emission of gamma radiation in an active medium with hidden population inversion of nuclear states. Hidden inversion appears in cooled nuclear ensembles due to assistance of the nuclear recoil in emission and absorption of gamma quanta. Establishing a hidden inversion allows an amplification of gamma radiation to occur in a particular frequency range without excess of the number of excited nuclei over the number of unexcited nuclei. We formulate a set of requirements to the pumping radiation and to the amplifying nuclear medium crucial to the development of gamma-ray lasing.
This work concerns the demonstration of the feasibility of the tuning and perhaps even stimulation of nuclear radiation. Theory1–3 has indicated that anti-Stokes Raman up- conversion of intense but conventional long-wavelength sources of radiation produced by scattering from isomeric states of nuclear excitation could lead to significant sources of tunable γ radiation characterized by the natural Mossbauer width of the lines. This would result in lines with sub-angstrom wavelengths and widths of a few megahertz. Further computations4 have suggested that this type of coherent, as well as a new type of incoherent, optical pumping could even lead to appreciable levels of inversion of the population of nuclear levels that would be capable of supporting the growth of stimulated γ-ray intensity. Whether these processes can reach threshold depends on the resolution of basic issues lying in an interdisciplinary region between quantum electronics and nuclear physics that have not been previously addressed.
Nuclear excitons known from M\"ossbauer spectroscopy describe coherent excitations of a large number of nuclei---analogous to Dicke states (or Dicke super-radiance) in quantum optics. In this paper, we study the possibility of constructing a laser based on these coherent excitations. In contrast to the free-electron laser (in its usual design), such a device would be based on stimulated emission and thus might offer certain advantages, e.g., regarding energy-momentum accuracy. Unfortunately, inserting realistic parameters, the window of operability is probably not open (yet) to present-day technology; but our design should be feasible in the UV regime, for example.
Modification of nuclear resonant absorption by means of laser radiation is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. Theoretical analysis is done on the basis of four-level model of atom. This model includes both electronic and nuclear excitations. It is predicted that under coherent laser driving nuclear resonant Mossbauer absorption can be significantly modified, e.g. new Mossbauer resonances can appear, some of the existing resonances can vanish, both can be Rabi-split, broadened by laser action. In addition, it is predicted that Mossbauer absorption can be completely suppressed due to coherent population trapping. Experimental observation of laser-induced transformations of Mossbauer spectra of 57Fe2+ : MgO is accomplished. New Mossbauer lines appear with laser driving while the existing are broadened. Possible explanations of the observed changes in 57Fe2+ : MgO Mossbauer spectra are population of higher-lying electronic states of iron ion and significant modification of electronic relaxation processes due to modified Jahn-Teller interaction.
This work concerns the demonstration of the feasibility of the tuning and perhaps even stimulation of nuclear radiation. Theory [1-3] has indicated that anti-Stokes Raman upconversion of intense but conventional long wavelength sources of radiation produced by scattering from isomeric states of nuclear excitation could lead to significant sources of tunable y-radiation characterized by the natural Mössbauer width of the lines. This would result in lines with sub-Angstrom wavelengths and widths of a few MHz. Further computations [4] have suggested that this type of coherent, as well as a new type of incoherent, optical pumping could even lead to appreciable levels of inversion of the population of nuclear levels that would be capable of supporting the growth of stimulated y-ray intensity. Whether or not these processes can reach threshold depends upon the resolution of basic issues lying in an interdisciplinary region between quantum electronics and nuclear physics that have not been previously addressed. It was the purpose of this work to study these issues experimentally.