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

美国国家科学基金会资助ECS-8501433的这项更新建议是为了研究新的准分子和反斯托克斯拉曼激光系统，主要是在电磁光谱的真空紫外区和紫外区。这项拟议的研究将利用莱斯大学近年来开发的两种不同的互补方法-电子束和激光产生的等离子体激发的独特能力。最近，PI预测并发现了一类新的分子--离子碱卤化物准分子。他们的光谱以及导致他们产生的机制将被研究。可能的激发方案包括潘宁电离过程，通过与电子束产生的亚稳态氦和霓虹灯原子的碰撞，达到第二电离势。还将研究通过准分子激光烧蚀固体表面的分子和软X射线激发碱蒸汽对这些高激发态的光学激发。这是一种新的方法，因为到目前为止，这种激发技术只应用于原子系统。还将寻找新的三原子稀有气体卤化物准分子，以阐明它们的动力学行为。此外，还将研究已知激光的新泵浦方案以及基于新的光谱信息开发新的激光光源。一种这样的方案将利用一种新的光学激发技术，使用玻璃锥体(轴锥)来光学泵浦稀有气体准分子。这可能导致简单的毫瓦平均功率可调的VUV光源。其他被提出的方案包括稀有气体准分子、原子氧中的反斯托克斯拉曼激光，以及碱原子准亚稳态四重态的碰撞激发。

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.