Discovery of Optically Pumped Far-Infrared Laser Emissions
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Far-Infrared Lasing, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Laser Emissions
Abstract
For nearly 45 years, the optically pumped molecular laser has been the most prolific source of coherent far-infrared radiation. This type of laser system has generated over 5,000 discrete laser frequencies from about 0.025 to 3.030 mm. At Central Washington University, our optically pumped molecular laser system is a two laser system consisting of a carbon dioxide (CO2) pump laser that is used to excite the medium housed in the second, far-infrared laser cavity. For this investigation the media used to generate far-infrared laser emissions were the 13CD3OH and 13CD3OD methanol isotopologues, along with CD3CN, and 13CD3I. Between these four media 125 far-infrared laser emissions were generated, with 34 of these emissions being observed for the first time. The far-infrared laser emissions discovered during our investigation ranged in wavelength from 55.0 to 873.2 µm. This presentation will discuss the unique properties and operating characteristics of this specific far-infrared laser system, along with operational procedures utilized when searching for new laser emissions.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Eric; McKnight, Mark; and Penoyar, Patrick, "Discovery of Optically Pumped Far-Infrared Laser Emissions" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 26.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/26
Poster Number
6
Additional Mentoring Department
Physics
Discovery of Optically Pumped Far-Infrared Laser Emissions
SURC Ballroom C/D
For nearly 45 years, the optically pumped molecular laser has been the most prolific source of coherent far-infrared radiation. This type of laser system has generated over 5,000 discrete laser frequencies from about 0.025 to 3.030 mm. At Central Washington University, our optically pumped molecular laser system is a two laser system consisting of a carbon dioxide (CO2) pump laser that is used to excite the medium housed in the second, far-infrared laser cavity. For this investigation the media used to generate far-infrared laser emissions were the 13CD3OH and 13CD3OD methanol isotopologues, along with CD3CN, and 13CD3I. Between these four media 125 far-infrared laser emissions were generated, with 34 of these emissions being observed for the first time. The far-infrared laser emissions discovered during our investigation ranged in wavelength from 55.0 to 873.2 µm. This presentation will discuss the unique properties and operating characteristics of this specific far-infrared laser system, along with operational procedures utilized when searching for new laser emissions.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Jackson, Mike