CW lasing based on self-limited transitions of metal atoms

V F Gavrikov, Vladimir A. Shcheglov, И. И. Климовский

The possibility of achieving cw lasing on self-terminating transitions of metal atoms is examined theoretically for the case in which the lower working level is one of a group of metastable levels which are effectively mixed in collisions with atoms and molecules of a buffer (quenching) gas. The presence of the group of metastable levels has two consequences. First, it substantially raises the efficiency of the depopulation of the lower working level by heavy particles. Second, it creates conditions such that electrons cause a relaxation of this group of levels to the ground state. As a result, the quenching-gas pressure required for cw lasing is reduced to ∼10 torr. The ranges of gas temperatures in which cw lasing can be achieved in this scheme are estimated. It is suggested that organometallic compounds be used as the active media in these lasers.

O. V. Astafiev, K. Inomata, A. O. Niskanen +4 more

Jaw-Shen Tsai, O. V. Astafiev, K. Inomata +4 more

R. Corbalán, J. Mompart, Ramon A. Vilaseca +1 more

Lasing without inversion (LWI) is investigated from a nonlinear dynamics point of view for an atomic system with three coupled J = 0-1 transitions. The driving and generated fields couple two of these transitions defining a double- scheme. In addition, two incoherent pump fields are acting on the system. We find that LWI can occur not only in a continuous wave regime but also in a self-pulsing regime. A clear physical interpretation of the origin of this self-pulsing LWI is given. We obtain analytically the threshold driving field intensity needed to achieve both continuous wave and self-pulsing LWI emission. For large enough cavity losses, the system can reach either continuous wave or self-pulsing regimes by only changing the driving field intensity.

V. J. Sánchez-Morcillo, Eugenio Roldán, G.J. de Valcarel

The author demonstrate that lasing without inversion can be achieved through a self-pulsing instability. This is shown for the resonant coherently driven three-level media proposed by Kocharovskaya, Mandel and Radeonychev (1992) as inversionless amplifiers of a monochromatic field. A usual instability giving rise to CW lasing is also found. Both instabilities are mutually exclusive, since they are primarily determined by opposite signs of the population difference between the two levels coupled by the driving field. The general necessary conditions for inversionless lasing are given and it is found that the two instabilities require a good quality cavity and are produced in a limited range of driving field intensity.

James M. Mitrani, Hui Xia, S. Suckewer