Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

Experimental investigation of a pulsed Rb–Ar excimer-pumped alkali laser

Hongling Cheng, Zhimin Wang, Fengfeng Zhang, Mingqiang Wang, Zhaoshuo Tian, Qin-Jun Peng, Dafu Cui, Zuyan Xu

Published Feb 3, 2017• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We present experimental results of an exciplex-pumped alkali laser (XPAL) at 780 nm based on the 5 2 P 3/2 → 5 2 S 1/2 transition of the Rb atom in mixtures of Rb vapor and Ar. A laboratory-built Ti:sapphire laser with a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz and a pulse width of 100 ns is used as the pump source. The maximum laser pulse energy of 0.26 µJ at 780 nm is obtained under an absorbed pump pulse energy of 42 µJ at 755 nm in mixtures of Rb vapor and Ar at a temperature of 423 K, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 0.62%. Further experiments show that the output laser at 780 nm can always be detected for pump wavelengths ranging from 754 to 759 nm, indicating that Rb–Ar mixtures can be effectively pumped by commercial laser diodes (LDs) with a bandwidth of 5 nm.

DOI
10.7567/jjap.56.032701

Related papers

Multi-quantum excitation in optically pumped alkali atom: rare gas mixtures

Kristin L. Galbally-Kinney, Wilson T. Rawlins, Steven J. Davis

Diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) technology offers a means of achieving high-energy gas laser output through optical pumping of the D-lines of Cs, Rb, and K. The exciplex effect, based on weak attractive forces between alkali atoms and polarizable rare gas atoms (Ar, Kr, Xe), provides an alternative approach via broadband excitation of exciplex precursors (XPAL). In XPAL configurations, we have observed multi-quantum excitation within the alkali manifolds which result in infrared emission lines between 1 and 4 μm. The observed excited states include the 42FJ states of both Cs and Rb, which are well above the two-photon energy of the excitation laser in each case. We have observed fluorescence from multi-quantum states for excitation wavelengths throughout the exciplex absorption bands of Cs-Ar, Cs-Kr, and Cs-Xe. The intensity scaling is roughly first-order or less in both pump power and alkali concentration, suggesting a collisional energy pooling excitation mechanism. Collisional up-pumping appears to present a parasitic loss term for optically pumped atomic systems at high intensities, however there may also be excitation of other lasing transitions at infrared wavelengths.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Mar 3, 2014•2 citations

Lasing in alkali atoms pumped by the dissociation of alkali-rare gas exciplexes (excimers)

Jason D. Readle, C. J. Wagner, J.T. Verdeyen +2 more

Lasing on the 62P1/2→62S1/2(D1) resonance transition of atomic Cs at 894.3 nm has been demonstrated in mixtures of Ar, ethane, and Cs vapor by the photoexcitation of ground state Cs-Ar collision pairs and subsequent dissociation of diatomic, electronically-excited CsAr molecules (exciplexes or excimers). The blue satellites of the alkali D2 lines provide a pathway for optically pumping atomic alkali lasers on the principal series (resonance) transitions with broad linewidth (>2 nm) semiconductor diode lasers. In this paper we discuss different variations of this new laser system and the experiments of the initial demonstration.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Feb 12, 2009•21 citations

Optically Pumped Atomic Rubidium Lasers: Two-Photon and Exciplex Excitation Mechanisms

Jeffrey Gallagher

Abstract : The Doppler-broadened two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section for the 52S1/2- 52D5/2 transition in Rb is measured using direct absorption methods. A detailed model of the intensity profile was developed to account for a focused Gaussian beam propagating through a two-photon absorption medium. A peak absorbance of 24% was observed for an intensity of 6.28 kW/cm2 at the focus, a Rb density of 4.6 x 1015 cm-3 concentrations from 1.61-8.52 x 10(15) cm-3 line. Extracting the hyperfine-broadened TPA cross-section from 87 test configurations, while varying the pump power, alkali concentration and focal length, yielded an error weighted average of 6.75x10-21 cm4/W. This cross-section is sufficient for a pulsed dye laser to bleach the pump transition in the Two-Photon Pumped Alkali Laser (TPAL) that lases at 420 nm and 5.2 mum. Additionally, optically pumped atomic rubidium lasers pumped in the blue satellite of the D2 line from the ground Rb-Ar or Rb-Kr collision pair to the dissociative B2 sum 1/2 produce laser emission at 780.2 nm. Lasing is achieved for the Rb-Ar system and 757.1 - 760.4 nm for the Rb-Kr system. Slope efficiencies exceed 0.25% using a heat pipe configuration. The gain is very high with photon build-up times of 1-3.7 ns.

•Jun 1, 2013•2 citations

Atomic alkali lasers pumped by the dissociation of photoexcited alkali-rare gas collision pairs

Jason D. Readle

A new class of photoassociation lasers has been demonstrated in which photoexcited alkali-rare gas collision pairs dissociate in order to produce inversion on atomic alkali transitions. The pump acceptance bandwidths of these excimer bands, historically referred to as spectral satellites, have been observed to be as broad as 5 nm. This characteristic makes excimer-pumped alkali-vapor lasers (XPALs) attractive candidates for the spatial mode conversion of laser diode arrays with nominal linewidths of 2 nm in order to produce high quality (M2 1) beams. Quantum e ciencies exceeding 98% have been measured and may potentially mitigate heat extraction issues associated with high power, large volume lasers. XPALs operating on both the n2P1=2 ! n2S1=2 (D1) or n2P3=2 ! n2S1=2 (D2) transitions of Cs (n = 6) and Rb (n = 5) have been experimentally investigated and show promise for scaling to high power, diode pumped systems. Both semiclassical and quantum mechanical formulations of the free!free transitions which produce satellites are presented, culminating in an improved CsAr(B2 + 1=2) potential. A timedependent rate equation model is also described which clearly shows the validity and utility of employing the laser itself as a sensitive probe of the underlying photoassociation kinetics.

•Aug 20, 2010•7 citations

Pumping of atomic alkali lasers by photoexcitation of a resonance line blue satellite and alkali-rare gas excimer dissociation

Jason D. Readle, C. J. Wagner, J. T. Verdeyen +3 more

Photoassociation of alkali-rare gas atomic collision pairs provides an alternative approach to optically pumping atomic alkali lasers. Lasing on the 6 P21/2→6 S21/2 (D1) transition of Cs has been observed when the blue satellite of the 6 P23/2←6 S21/2 (D2) transition, peaking at ∼837 nm for mixtures of Cs vapor, Ar, and ethane, is pumped by a pulsed dye laser. For 50% output coupling, laser threshold with respect to absorbed pump energy is ∼40 μJ at T=435 K and the slope efficiency approaches 10%. The measured spectral breadth for the blue satellite (≳5 nm at 410 K) will accommodate cw pumping of the Cs laser with conventional semiconductor lasers.

Applied Physics Letters•Jun 22, 2009•42 citations

IR laser oscillation on caesium and rubidium atomic transitions upon pumping to high-lying energy levels

A. A. Babin, Michail V. Volkov, Sergey G Garanin +5 more

Abstract Laser oscillation is obtained in caesium and rubidium atoms with wavelengths in the range of 2 – 5.5 μm under pumping to high-lying energy levels. Longitudinal resonant pumping is implemented using the second harmonic of radiation from an optical parametric oscillator. The pump wavelength is tuned over discrete levels from 8P to 10P in caesium atoms and from 6P to 8P in rubidium atoms. The width of the pump radiation spectrum is 12 cm−1. When caesium atoms are pumped, the pump pulse energy is no more than 10 mJ; when rubidium atoms are pumped, it does not exceed 3 mJ. The pulse repetition rate is 10 Hz. The maximum output energy of IR laser radiation upon pumping the 9P3/2 level of caesium atoms is about 100 μJ at a cell temperature of ∼170°C, while the efficiency of pump conversion into radiation energy with a wavelength λ ∼ 3.1 μm turns out to be ∼1 %. For rubidium atoms, an estimate of the output energy of IR radiation gives a value of ∼80 μJ at a cell temperature of 180 °C, which corresponds to an energy efficiency of ∼2.7 %.

Quantum Electronics•Mar 30, 2022•0 citations
Abstract We present experimental results of an exciplex-pumped alkali laser (XPAL) at 780 nm based on the 5 2 P 3/2 → 5 2 S 1/2 transition of the Rb atom in mixtures of Rb vapor and Ar. A laboratory-built Ti:sapphire laser with a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz and a pulse width of 100 ns is used as the pump source. The maximum laser pulse energy of 0.26 µJ at 780 nm is obtained under an absorbed pump pulse energy of 42 µJ at 755 nm in mixtures of Rb vapor and Ar at a temperature of 423 K, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 0.62%. Further experiments show that the output laser at 780 nm can always be detected for pump wavelengths ranging from 754 to 759 nm, indicating that Rb–Ar mixtures can be effectively pumped by commercial laser diodes (LDs) with a bandwidth of 5 nm.
Diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) technology offers a means of achieving high-energy gas laser output through optical pumping of the D-lines of Cs, Rb, and K. The exciplex effect, based on weak attractive forces between alkali atoms and polarizable rare gas atoms (Ar, Kr, Xe), provides an alternative approach via broadband excitation of exciplex precursors (XPAL). In XPAL configurations, we have observed multi-quantum excitation within the alkali manifolds which result in infrared emission lines between 1 and 4 μm. The observed excited states include the 42FJ states of both Cs and Rb, which are well above the two-photon energy of the excitation laser in each case. We have observed fluorescence from multi-quantum states for excitation wavelengths throughout the exciplex absorption bands of Cs-Ar, Cs-Kr, and Cs-Xe. The intensity scaling is roughly first-order or less in both pump power and alkali concentration, suggesting a collisional energy pooling excitation mechanism. Collisional up-pumping appears to present a parasitic loss term for optically pumped atomic systems at high intensities, however there may also be excitation of other lasing transitions at infrared wavelengths.
Lasing on the 62P1/2→62S1/2(D1) resonance transition of atomic Cs at 894.3 nm has been demonstrated in mixtures of Ar, ethane, and Cs vapor by the photoexcitation of ground state Cs-Ar collision pairs and subsequent dissociation of diatomic, electronically-excited CsAr molecules (exciplexes or excimers). The blue satellites of the alkali D2 lines provide a pathway for optically pumping atomic alkali lasers on the principal series (resonance) transitions with broad linewidth (>2 nm) semiconductor diode lasers. In this paper we discuss different variations of this new laser system and the experiments of the initial demonstration.
Abstract : The Doppler-broadened two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section for the 52S1/2- 52D5/2 transition in Rb is measured using direct absorption methods. A detailed model of the intensity profile was developed to account for a focused Gaussian beam propagating through a two-photon absorption medium. A peak absorbance of 24% was observed for an intensity of 6.28 kW/cm2 at the focus, a Rb density of 4.6 x 1015 cm-3 concentrations from 1.61-8.52 x 10(15) cm-3 line. Extracting the hyperfine-broadened TPA cross-section from 87 test configurations, while varying the pump power, alkali concentration and focal length, yielded an error weighted average of 6.75x10-21 cm4/W. This cross-section is sufficient for a pulsed dye laser to bleach the pump transition in the Two-Photon Pumped Alkali Laser (TPAL) that lases at 420 nm and 5.2 mum. Additionally, optically pumped atomic rubidium lasers pumped in the blue satellite of the D2 line from the ground Rb-Ar or Rb-Kr collision pair to the dissociative B2 sum 1/2 produce laser emission at 780.2 nm. Lasing is achieved for the Rb-Ar system and 757.1 - 760.4 nm for the Rb-Kr system. Slope efficiencies exceed 0.25% using a heat pipe configuration. The gain is very high with photon build-up times of 1-3.7 ns.
A new class of photoassociation lasers has been demonstrated in which photoexcited alkali-rare gas collision pairs dissociate in order to produce inversion on atomic alkali transitions. The pump acceptance bandwidths of these excimer bands, historically referred to as spectral satellites, have been observed to be as broad as 5 nm. This characteristic makes excimer-pumped alkali-vapor lasers (XPALs) attractive candidates for the spatial mode conversion of laser diode arrays with nominal linewidths of 2 nm in order to produce high quality (M2 1) beams. Quantum e ciencies exceeding 98% have been measured and may potentially mitigate heat extraction issues associated with high power, large volume lasers. XPALs operating on both the n2P1=2 ! n2S1=2 (D1) or n2P3=2 ! n2S1=2 (D2) transitions of Cs (n = 6) and Rb (n = 5) have been experimentally investigated and show promise for scaling to high power, diode pumped systems. Both semiclassical and quantum mechanical formulations of the free!free transitions which produce satellites are presented, culminating in an improved CsAr(B2 + 1=2) potential. A timedependent rate equation model is also described which clearly shows the validity and utility of employing the laser itself as a sensitive probe of the underlying photoassociation kinetics.
Photoassociation of alkali-rare gas atomic collision pairs provides an alternative approach to optically pumping atomic alkali lasers. Lasing on the 6 P21/2→6 S21/2 (D1) transition of Cs has been observed when the blue satellite of the 6 P23/2←6 S21/2 (D2) transition, peaking at ∼837 nm for mixtures of Cs vapor, Ar, and ethane, is pumped by a pulsed dye laser. For 50% output coupling, laser threshold with respect to absorbed pump energy is ∼40 μJ at T=435 K and the slope efficiency approaches 10%. The measured spectral breadth for the blue satellite (≳5 nm at 410 K) will accommodate cw pumping of the Cs laser with conventional semiconductor lasers.
Abstract Laser oscillation is obtained in caesium and rubidium atoms with wavelengths in the range of 2 – 5.5 μm under pumping to high-lying energy levels. Longitudinal resonant pumping is implemented using the second harmonic of radiation from an optical parametric oscillator. The pump wavelength is tuned over discrete levels from 8P to 10P in caesium atoms and from 6P to 8P in rubidium atoms. The width of the pump radiation spectrum is 12 cm−1. When caesium atoms are pumped, the pump pulse energy is no more than 10 mJ; when rubidium atoms are pumped, it does not exceed 3 mJ. The pulse repetition rate is 10 Hz. The maximum output energy of IR laser radiation upon pumping the 9P3/2 level of caesium atoms is about 100 μJ at a cell temperature of ∼170°C, while the efficiency of pump conversion into radiation energy with a wavelength λ ∼ 3.1 μm turns out to be ∼1 %. For rubidium atoms, an estimate of the output energy of IR radiation gives a value of ∼80 μJ at a cell temperature of 180 °C, which corresponds to an energy efficiency of ∼2.7 %.