Magnetic Q-switching of a photolytic iodine laser

Abstract

The Zeeman effect has been utilized in a switching technique of an atomic iodine laser. Magnetic fields up to a kilogauss have been applied to atomic iodine, prepared by thermally dissociating molecular iodine, that was situated inside the laser cavity. The absorption of the 1.315 μm light by atomic iodine was reduced by approximately 90% when the field was applied. This effect is used here to demonstrate a gas phase, self-healing Q-switch for a small (1 mW) cw photolytic iodine laser. Enhancement ratios of pulse power over cw power on the order of 55 to 1 were achieved.