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International Laser Science Conference

Multibeam Borrmann effect in crystalline gamma-ray lasers

J. T. Hutton, G. T. Trammell, J. P. Hannon

Published Jan 1, 1986• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The effects of crystallinity are of crucial importance in considerations regarding gamma-ray lasers, bringing in new elements of laser theory which could well prove decisive in determining whether lasing can or cannot be achieved. Certain multibeam Borrmann eigenmodes of the radiation field within a perfect crystal containing resonant Mossbauer nuclei exhibit much less photoabsorption and much stronger coupling to the nuclei (provided the nuclear transition is of multipolarity M1 or higher) than do the single plane wave channels of an amorphous system (or equivalently, off-Bragg in the crystal). These modes offer the possibility of achieving lasing with orders of magnitude less population inversion density than would otherwise be the case, provided a nondestructive means is found to achieve a population inversion. The radiation in these modes would emerge from the crystal in a number of well-defined beams, each collimated by Bragg diffraction to an angular divergence of from 10-5to 10-4 rad. The properties of these multibeam modes as they relate to gamma-ray lasers, as well as the effects of crystallinity on the optics of systems which decay by superradiant rather than stimulate demission, are discussed.

DOI
10.1364/ils.1986.tud2

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The effects of crystallinity are of crucial importance in considerations regarding gamma-ray lasers, bringing in new elements of laser theory which could well prove decisive in determining whether lasing can or cannot be achieved. Certain multibeam Borrmann eigenmodes of the radiation field within a perfect crystal containing resonant Mossbauer nuclei exhibit much less photoabsorption and much stronger coupling to the nuclei (provided the nuclear transition is of multipolarity M1 or higher) than do the single plane wave channels of an amorphous system (or equivalently, off-Bragg in the crystal). These modes offer the possibility of achieving lasing with orders of magnitude less population inversion density than would otherwise be the case, provided a nondestructive means is found to achieve a population inversion. The radiation in these modes would emerge from the crystal in a number of well-defined beams, each collimated by Bragg diffraction to an angular divergence of from 10-5to 10-4 rad. The properties of these multibeam modes as they relate to gamma-ray lasers, as well as the effects of crystallinity on the optics of systems which decay by superradiant rather than stimulate demission, are discussed.
There is a possibility that an isomer can be found which could be used to obtain a sufficient population inversion density to bring about nuclear lasing. If it can be realized, a gamma ray laser ("graser") will be a new source of radiation in the sim\\simsim 1A region of unexcelled spectral brightness and coherence, and can be expected to have revolutionary consequences for physics, biology, and chemistry. The result of our research is that the effects of crystallinity are of crucial importance in considerations regarding gamma-ray lasers, bringing in new elements to laser theory which could very well prove decisive in determining whether grasing can or cannot be achieved.\nCertain multi-beam Borrmann eigenmodes of the radiation field in a perfect crystal have much stronger coupling to the emitting nuclei, and much less photoabsorption, than modes in the amorphous case. These modes may be selectively fed by nuclear transitions of the proper multipolarity. A crystal containing such emitters would require orders of magnitude less population inversion density in order to lase than would an amorphous sample of similar material.\nMulti-beam Borrmann modes also have several applications to single-photon optics, particularly the problem of anomalous emission of a gamma\\gammagamma-ray by an internal source of multipolarity M1 or higher. While this effect can occur for a 2-beam Borrmann mode, even stronger anomalous emission is possible into multi-beam Borrmann modes. In addition, certain multi-beam Borrmann modes can anomalously transmit resonant radiation through a Mossbauer crystal. (This cannot occur for the 2-beam modes, except for the case of an E1 transition, since the Borrmann mode couples strongly to the nuclei and thus will be strongly absorbed at resonance.)
We have previously shown that two-beam Borrmann modes of good single M\"ossbauer crystals offer the possibility of achieving nuclear lasing at population-inversion densities substantially lower than would be required in an amorphous sample of the same material [J. T. Hutton, J. P. Hannon, and G. T. Trammell, Phys. Rev. A 37, 4269 (1988)]. In this paper we discuss the further improvements which are obtained in multibeam Borrmann modes (which consist of the coherent superposition of three or more plane waves within the crystal). These modes can have smaller absorption coefficients, and more importantly, stronger coupling to the nuclei, as well as sharper collimation than do corresponding two-beam modes, leading to even lower requirements for the population-inversion density needed to induce lasing.
Summary form only given. The gamma-ray laser dilemma states that incoherent pump required to produce a population inversion would unavoidable destroy the conditions of the Mossbauer and Borrmann effects which are crucial for realization of the net gain. For four decades this dilemma prevailed all over the researches on gamma-ray lasers, making hopeless any attempt to approach a problem of gamma-ray laser. Recently it was shown that laser driving of bounded electronic transitions in atoms provides efficient manipulation by the Mossbauer spectra of nuclear transitions. Under certain conditions it leads to suppression of resonant absorption by 3-5 orders of magnitude reducing it up to the level of off-resonant losses in the host matrix. In turn, suppression of the resonant absorption reduces by the same amount the requirement for incoherent pump and accordingly heating of the active sample. This allows to pump active nuclei in the host lattice without destroying the conditions of both Mossbauer and Borrmann effects. Moreover it allows to pump resonantly at the operating transition that increases additionally the efficiency of the incoherent pump by 1-2 orders of magnitude. All together gamma-ray laser schemes involving laser driving of electronic transitions reduce the laser threshold by 4-7 orders of magnitude and hence suggest a completely new path for solution of the gamma-ray laser problem.
Summary form only given. Recently, it was predicted that laser radiation can be used to manipulate very efficiently nuclear transitions at gamma-ray energies in solids. It results in both drastic qualitative and strong qualitative modifications of the Mossbauer spectra under the action of coherent optical radiation. The solid sample represents a host matrix where high densities of the ions are embedded by doping. The ions should possess both Mossbauer gamma-ray and optical electronic transitions favorable for the desired effects to be observed. Basically one needs Mossbauer-active ions with strong and sharp optical lines. The latter condition is typically satisfied for rare-earth and transition-metal ions in crystalline hosts and, remarkably, the majority of them are also Mossbauer-active.
Summary form only given. Recently, it was predicted that laser radiation can be used to manipulate very efficiently nuclear transitions at gamma-ray energies in solids. It results in both drastic qualitative and strong qualitative modifications of the Mossbauer spectra under the action of coherent optical radiation. The solid sample represents a host matrix where high densities of the ions are embedded by doping. The ions should possess both Mossbauer gamma-ray and optical electronic transitions favorable for the desired effects to be observed. Basically one needs Mossbauer-active ions with strong and sharp optical lines. The latter condition is typically satisfied for rare-earth and transition-metal ions in crystalline hosts and, remarkably, the majority of them are also Mossbauer-active.