MRI: Acquisition of a 750 Hz Narrow-Band Argon Fluoride Laser

惠特沃斯学院化学系将获得这一重大研究仪器(MRI)计划颁发的750赫兹窄带氟化Ar激光器。该设备将加强以下领域的研究：1)开发激光诱导荧光(LIF)系统，以原位分析碳基离子推进器栅格的磨损；以及2)测量在193 nm处光解的几个感兴趣的分子的解离共振拉曼光谱。来自几个地区机构(贡萨加大学、东华盛顿大学、新轻工业公司)的研究人员还将使用该激光系统对非线性材料、细菌的光声光谱进行研究，并为可控取向胶体光子晶体生长的模板开发高空间频率光栅。惠特沃斯、贡萨加和华盛顿东部的本科生将大量参与研究工作。高重复频率激光提供相干可见光或红外光脉冲，使研究人员能够获得关于快速发生的化学反应的重要信息。它的使用可能会使我们对活性和非活性分子的性质的理解有所突破。特别是，LIF能够在离子推进器的羽流中检测到非常少量的碳原子。这将允许对这些先进的推进器系统中的磨损进行快速诊断测试。改用碳基推进器将显著提高离子推进器的效率和寿命，从而节省大量成本。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Whitworth College will acquire a 750 Hz narrow-band argon fluoride laser. This equipment will enhance research in the following areas: 1) development of a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) system to analyze wear on carbon-based ion thruster grids in situ; and 2) measurement of the dissociative resonance Raman spectra of several interesting molecules that photodissociate at 193 nm. Researchers from several area institutions (Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, New Light Industries) would also use this laser system to carry out studies on nonlinear materials, photoacoustic spectroscopy of bacteria and to develop high-spatial frequency gratings for templates in the growth of controlled orientation colloidal photonic crystals. Undergraduate students at Whitworth, Gonzaga and Eastern Washington will be heavily involved in the research efforts. A high repetition rate laser provides pulses of coherent visible or infrared light and enables researchers to obtain important information about fast occurring chemical reactions. Its use may enable breakthroughs in our understanding of the properties of reactive and nonreactive molecules. In particular, LIF is capable of detecting very small quantities of carbon atoms in the plumes of ion thrusters. This will allow for a rapid diagnostic test for wear in these advanced thruster systems. A switch to carbon-based thrusters will significantly increase the efficiency and lifetime of the ion thrusters, resulting in tremendous cost-savings.