S. N. Raikov

Intracavity Laser Spectroscopy: Plasma Diagnostics and Spectral Analysis (Review)

Based on the analysis of the results obtained for the most part in the past ten years, the present state of the art and the potential for the development of two current trends in the application of selective intracavity laser spectroscopy are considered, that is, the dynamic diagnostics of plasma and the highly sensitive spectral analysis. The practically useful dependences and relationships reflecting the quantitative trends in the intracavity absorption in pulsed lasers have been systematized.

Laser absorption and fluorescence diagnostics of a plasma

Diagnostics of a near-surface laser plasma, the plasma of a strong-current pulse gaseous discharge in inert gases, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide under conditions of intense evaporation of the wall of the discharge chamber, the plasma of a discharge with a hollow cathode, and the active medium of an excimer laser was conducted by methods of intracavity laser spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence. The dynamic fields and absolute concentrations of atoms, ions, molecules and electrons, the plasma temperature, and the velocities of flows of particles were measured. The quantitative determination of the density of particles in the erosion laser flame prior to breakdown and the phenomena associated with the formation of molecules in the laser plasma received primary consideration.

Specific features of complete-absorption measurement in selective intracavity laser spectroscopy

For multimode pulsed dye lasers (of nanosecond and microsecond duration with frequency-dependent losses in the cavity), experimental studies and theoretical calculations have been made of the dependence of the value of the equivalent line width, used as a measure of selective absorption, on the main parameters characterizing the laser, the cavity, and the absorbent. Analytical relations have been obtained which describe the main aspects of complete absorption in lines with dispersion, Gaussian, or mixed spectra profiles, and their experimental testing has been carried out.

Recording of selective intracavity absorption at doubled frequencies of multimode laser radiation

We carried out measurements of the spectral distribution of wideband dye laser generation intensity within the limits and in the vicinity of an absorption line with its simultaneous recording at the frequencies of the fundamental and second harmonics of laser radiation. In the laser cavity we placed optical cuvettes with active and absorbing media, as well as selecting and nonlinear-optical elements. We show that at double frequencies the contrast of the narrow-band hole in the multimode laser generation spectrum increases. The gain in the concentration sensitivity of measurements depends in this case on the value of the absorption coefficient being determined.