Efficient tunable ultraviolet source based on stimulated Raman scattering of an excimer-pumped dye laser

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Tunable ultraviolet light sources are crucial for various scientific applications.
• Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) offers a pathway for generating light at new wavelengths.
• Efficient generation of UV light, particularly in the deep UV range, remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a tunable ultraviolet light source.
• To investigate the performance of a stimulated Raman scattering system in compressed hydrogen.
• To optimize the conversion efficiency for generating ultraviolet radiation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an excimer-pumped dye laser with a 440-nm output as the pump source.
• Employing compressed hydrogen as the Raman gain medium.
• Systematically varying the hydrogen gas temperature to assess its impact on conversion efficiency.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a tunable ultraviolet source based on stimulated Raman scattering.
• Achieved efficient conversion to the seventh anti-Stokes order at 193 nm.
• Observed a significant ~70% improvement in conversion efficiency by lowering the hydrogen gas temperature to 78 K.

Conclusions:

• The developed system provides a viable method for generating tunable ultraviolet light.
• Lowering the gas temperature is an effective strategy for enhancing SRS efficiency in hydrogen.
• The results highlight the potential of SRS in compressed hydrogen for deep UV generation.