Vacuum-ultraviolet anti-Stokes Raman laser with atomic selenium

Area of Science:

• Atomic physics
• Laser science
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Anti-Stokes Raman laser oscillation is a significant phenomenon for light generation.
• Achieving population inversion is crucial for laser operation.
• Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation has numerous applications but is challenging to generate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the achievement of anti-Stokes Raman-laser oscillation in atomic selenium.
• To demonstrate a method for achieving population inversion in atomic selenium.
• To explore the potential for generating high-power tunable VUV radiation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized pump-laser radiation at 199.5 and 254.8 nm.
• Achieved population inversion by photodissociation of carbonyl selenide (COSe) molecules using ArF-laser radiation.
• Observed laser oscillation at 158.7 and 167.5 nm.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated anti-Stokes Raman-laser oscillation in atomic Se at specific VUV wavelengths.
• Demonstrated low-threshold pump energies (0.5 and 20 microJ), indicating efficient laser operation.
• Confirmed the feasibility of using photodissociation for population inversion in this system.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrated anti-Stokes Raman-laser oscillation in atomic Se.
• The method provides a viable route for creating population inversion necessary for VUV laser generation.
• The low-threshold energies suggest potential for developing high-power, tunable VUV light sources.