FAR INFRARED LASER LINES PRODUCED FROM AN OPTICALLY PUMPED MOLECULAR LASER
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC 137B
Start Date
17-5-2012
End Date
17-5-2012
Abstract
LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Initially dubbed “the solution in search of a problem,” the laser was originally invented with no specific application in mind. Since its invention in 1960, the laser has been a significant asset to society with its countless applications in science, technology, and beyond. Today, some of its practical uses include checkout scanners, laser cutting and welding, along with defense and medical applications, such as LASIK surgery. Lasers have even found their way into the entertainment industry. One of the laser project’s at Central Washington University involves the discovery of new sources of light in the far-infrared region, defined as spanning wavelengths from 30 to 1000 micron. For this project, a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser was used to excite the medium in a recently constructed far-infrared laser cavity. This new laser cavity was evaluated using either CH3OH, CH3OD, CH2F2, CD3OH, CD3I, HCOOH, or H13COOH as the far-infrared laser medium. Using these various media, 140 laser lines were generated with our experimental system, ranging from 41.4 to 1136.2 micron. Of the 140 laser lines we detected, fourteen were new. This presentation will focus on discussing the experimental system and the process involved in the discovery of far-infrared laser lines.
Recommended Citation
Holman, Robert; Minton, Rolf; and Alves, Henrique, "FAR INFRARED LASER LINES PRODUCED FROM AN OPTICALLY PUMPED MOLECULAR LASER" (2012). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 132.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2012/oralpresentations/132
Additional Mentoring Department
Physics
FAR INFRARED LASER LINES PRODUCED FROM AN OPTICALLY PUMPED MOLECULAR LASER
SURC 137B
LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Initially dubbed “the solution in search of a problem,” the laser was originally invented with no specific application in mind. Since its invention in 1960, the laser has been a significant asset to society with its countless applications in science, technology, and beyond. Today, some of its practical uses include checkout scanners, laser cutting and welding, along with defense and medical applications, such as LASIK surgery. Lasers have even found their way into the entertainment industry. One of the laser project’s at Central Washington University involves the discovery of new sources of light in the far-infrared region, defined as spanning wavelengths from 30 to 1000 micron. For this project, a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser was used to excite the medium in a recently constructed far-infrared laser cavity. This new laser cavity was evaluated using either CH3OH, CH3OD, CH2F2, CD3OH, CD3I, HCOOH, or H13COOH as the far-infrared laser medium. Using these various media, 140 laser lines were generated with our experimental system, ranging from 41.4 to 1136.2 micron. Of the 140 laser lines we detected, fourteen were new. This presentation will focus on discussing the experimental system and the process involved in the discovery of far-infrared laser lines.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Michael Jackson