V. N. Ochkin

Interaction of light with a NLC–dendrimer system

The interaction of light with a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) doped with dendrimers containing terminal light-absorbing azobenzene fragments and a low-molar-mass dye identical to the fragments was studied in detail. Both the dendrimers and the dye induce orientational nonlinearity in a transparent nematic host. For the fifth-generation dendrimer, the nonlinearity is negative (director is rotated away from the light field direction). For the first-generation dendrimer and the dye, the nonlinearity sign depends on the light propagation direction with respect to the NLC director, light polarisation and external electric field. The results obtained show that complication of the molecular structure of the dopant, i.e. passing from the ‘free’ dye molecule to the first- and fifth-generation dendrimers, results in an increase of the efficiency of the orienting effect of the light.

Light-Induced Director Reorientation in Nematic Liquid Crystals Doped with Azobenzene-Containing Macromolecules of Different Architecture

The results of the studies of the orientational optical nonlinearity of a nematic host doped with high-molar-mass compounds of different molecular architecture such as a comb-like polymer and a dendrimer containing azobenzene chromophores are presented. The nonlinearity induced by these compounds was found to be higher than that induced by the low-molar-mass dyes similar in structure to the light-absorbing constituents of the polymer and dendrimer. Possible reasons for the nonlinearity enhancement for macromolecular dopants are discussed.

Orientational optical nonlinearity induced by comb-shaped polymers in a nematic liquid crystal

The effect of optical orientation in nematic liquid crystals containing small additions of high-molecular compounds, i.e., comb-shaped polymers with light-absorbing azobenzene side fragments, was studied. The effects of light-induced reorientation of the director of nematic liquid crystals caused by light absorption of polymers and a low-molecular compound with a structure similar to side fragments of the polymers were compared in detail. An explanation was proposed for large values of the orientational nonlinearity induced by polymers.

Coherent Raman scattering in molecular hydrogen in a dc electric field

The polarization properties of light in coherent Raman scattering in molecular hydrogen in a dc electric field are investigated. A nonlinear polarization-optical method of determining the absolute magnitude and orientation of the dc electric field is proposed and realized.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of a waveguide CO2 laser with radio-frequency excitation

A comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the optimization of a continuous-wave radiofrequency (rf) excited CO2 waveguide laser is presented. The numerical simulation includes the modelling of the gas-discharge plasma parameters like the plasma impedance and energy deposition, the laser kinetics and finally the influence of the resonator feedback on the lasing process. Along with this theoretical study, an extensive experimental research program enabled us to optimize the laser performance of the CO2 waveguide laser. As a result, a total output power of 42 W and a specific output power of 1.1 W/cm were obtained.

rf excited 1.1 W/cm waveguide CO2 laser

The results of an optimization procedure performed for a continuous wave rf excited sealed CO2 waveguide laser are presented. Parameters that affect laser performance, such as the excitation frequency, the gas pressure, and composition, as well as the electrode temperature and different kinds of circuit losses have been analyzed. An output power of 41 W (17.7 kW/l) with an efficiency of 12% has been obtained from an optimized laser with an active length 37 cm.

Orientational optical nonlinearity of nematic liquid crystals induced by high-molecular-mass azo-containing compounds

Processes of light-induced reorientation of nematic liquid-crystalline molecules induced by the addition of low concentrations (0.1–2.0 wt %) of comb-shaped polymers and carbosilane dendrimers containing azobenzene fragments are studied. When the molecular structure of the above compounds becomes more complicated, the induced orientational nonlinearity increases. The introduction of 2G and 3G dendrimers into a nematic has for the first time made it possible to visualize and study a purely optical first-order Freedericksz transition in the field of a linearly polarized wave.

Spectral investigation of cw rf-pumped atomic Xe laser with a slab geometry

A radiofrequency excited atomic Xe slab laser with an active volume of 2 × 10 × 300 mm3 using a quartz envelope containing the laser-gas mixture shows a stable cw performance with an output power of almost 1 W. The free-running system oscillates, depending on gas composition and density, on several lines between 1.73 and 3.51 μm. Line competition phenomena are observed. Single-line oscillation yields more than 500 mW.

Measurements of the number density of water molecules in plasma by using a combined spectral−probe method

A novel method for measuring the number density of water molecules in low-temperature plasma is developed. The absolute intensities of rotational lines of the (0,0) band of the OH(A2Σ–X2П) transition are used. Lines with sufficiently large rotational quantum numbers referring to the so-called “hot” group of molecules produced by electron-impact dissociative excitation of water molecules are chosen for measurements. The excitation rate of a process with a known cross section is determined by measuring the parameters of plasma electrons by means of the probe method. The measured number densities of molecules are compared with those in the initial plasma-forming mixture. The time evolution of the particle densities in plasma is investigated. The problems of the sensitivity and applicability of the absolute spectral method are considered.

Experimental verification of the method for detection of water microleakages in plasma vacuum chambers by using the hydroxyl spectrum

Experimental determination of the sensitivity of the method for detection of water microleakages in the cooling systems of the plasma vacuum chambers of complex electrophysical devices (such as tokamaks, fuel elements of nuclear reactors, and plasmachemical reactors) is considered. It was shown that the spectroscopic method for detection of water microleakages by using the hydroxyl radiation spectrum makes it possible to detect leakages at a level of 10−5 Pa m3 s−1. The spatial resolution of the method allows one to localize defects with an accuracy of several centimeters.