Effects of Gamma Irradiation of Ruby Laser Crystals
Document ID: 250
Master's Thesis
North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
Physics Department
Abstract
The energy output of ruby laser crystals (Al2O3 doped with Cr+++) has been significantly increased after Co 60 g-irradiation. Increases in output energy greater than a factor of five have been obtained with the experimental arrangements employed.
The initial importance of radiation produced center formations and their possible usefulness as energy storage centers is discussed. The general ideas of color center formation are presented with special emphasis on center formation in Al2O3. Also, spectral effects of center formation in Al2O3 are studied.
The experimental results have supported the hypothesis that energy stored in the radiation created center formations could be advantageously employed in increasing the laser output energy.
Keywords: laser, gamma radiation, color centers
| Citation: | C. R. Philbrick, "Effects of Gamma Irradiation of Ruby Laser Crystals", North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States, Master's Thesis, May 1964, 49 pages |