REU Supplement: Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies of New New Excimer and Anti-Stokes Raman Lasers

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This renewal proposal of NSF grant ECS-8501433 is for the study of new excimer and anti-Stokes Raman laser systems primarily in the VUV and XUV regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The proposed research will utilize the unique capabilities of two different complimentary approaches of electron beam and laser-produced plasma excitation developed during recent years at Rice University. A new class of molecules, the ionic alkali halide excimer, was recently predicted and discovered by the PI. Their spectroscopy as well as mechanisms leading to their production will be investigated. Possible excitation schemes include Penning ionization processes to a second ionization potential via collision with electron-beam-produced metastable helium and neon atoms. Optical excitation of these highly-excited states through excimer laser ablation of molecules from solid surfaces and soft x-ray excitation of alkali vapors will also be studied. This is a novel approach since this excitation technique has thus far only been applied to atomic systems. A search for new triatomic rare gas halide excimers will also be carried out to clarify their kinetic behavior. In addition, new pumping schemes for known lasers as well as the development of novel laser sources based on new spectroscopic information will be investigated. One such scheme will utilize a novel optical excitation technique employing glass cones (axicons) in order to optically pump the rare gas excimers. This could result in simple milliwatt average power tunable VUV sources. Other proposed schemes include anti-Stokes Raman lasers in the rare gas excimer, atomic oxygen, and the collisional excitation of quasi-metastable quartet states of the alkali atoms.