An optically pumped hydrogen iodide cascade laser operating in mid-infrared region

Abstract

In recent years, several activities have been toward optically pumped molecular gas lasers as mid-infrared coherent sources. These have been also motivated by the search of suitable laser media for Hollow-core Optical Fiber Gas Laser (HOFGLAS) and the novel beam combiner. To continue these challenge paths, an optically pumped Hydrogen Iodide (HI) laser is explored by using a comprehensive laser model. HI transitions in the communication band (1.5 μm) are attractive due to a potential mean to be excited by commercial available laser systems. Furthermore, its emission coverage in 5 micron region can be useful for many applications, for example, free-space communication and laser spectroscopy. In the laser model, 30 rotational states in each of the 8 vibrational states of HI are taken into account to allow molecular energy transfer processes such as rotational relaxation and vibrational relaxation. A HI laser under pulsed excitation on a second overtone transition with lasing cascade is possible. The complete lasing cascade originates from the terminal pumped state (vibrational state, V = 3) to the vibrational state, V = 2, from the vibrational state, V = 2 to the vibrational state, V = 1 and finally from the vibrational state, V = 1 to the vibrational ground state. For the full lasing cascade, the laser efficiencies can be approached to 70%. In addition, the lasing behavior of the gas pressure related to the molecular relaxation rates and pressure broadening effects is also investigated. Owing to exceptional frequency tuning properties, the laser output can be manipulated to desired frequencies.