TUNABLE SOLID STATE LASER SOURCE

THE PROGRAM PROPOSED HEREIN IS TO EXPERIMENTALLY INVESTIGATE AND CHARACTERIZE VISIBLE LASER EMISSION FROM THE SOLID-STATE LASER MATERIAL TI(3+):AL(2)O(3) USING A SURFACE DISCHARGE AS THE PRIMARY EXCITATION SOURCE. RECENTLY, A VISIBLE FLUORESCENCE REGION WAS FOUND TO EXIST EXTENDING FROM 480 TO 690 NANOMETERS AND LASER EMISSION HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THIS EMISSION BAND IN THE PROPOSER'S LABORATORY. WE PROPOSE TO EXPERIMENTALLY DETERMINE THE GREATEST ENHANCEMENT FROM A SURFACE DISCHARGE SUBSTRATE WITHIN THE 210 TO 315 NANOMETER ABSORPTION REGION AND USE THIS INFORMATION TO SELECT A SURFACE DISCHARGE SUBSTRATE THAT BEST ENHANCES THESE ABSORPTION BANDS. BASED UPON THESE RESULTS, A SURFACE DISCHARGE PUMPED VISIBLE TI(3+):AL(2)O(3) LASER WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AND EXPERIMENTALLY CHARACTERIZED WITH REGARD TO LASER OUTPUT AND TUNABILITY OVER THE VISIBLE EMISSION RANGE.