Magnetic Enhancement Of Laser Amplifier Energy Storage Capability

This paper describes an experimental and theoretical investigation of the efficacy of an axial inhomogeneous magnetic field in increasing the ratio of stored 2nergy to peak small signal amplification in a laser system based on the Pp,- atomic Iodine transition. The experiments were conducted with a photoLaissocia-3/2 tive C3F71-Iodine laser oscillator placed in the fringing field of a solenoid. By studying the variation with magnetic field of the time-integrated dissociative flux at the onset of lasing, energy storage enhancements up to 15 (at a peak field of 20 Kilogauss) were inferred. The results are compared with theoretical calculations of the phenomena which include the hyperfine structure of the transition. The dynamic behavior and extraction efficiency of a master oscillator/power amplifier configuration utilizing this technique for increasing the maximum obtainable output energy per pulse are also discussed.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.