Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Energy Output of Ruby Laser Crystals
Document ID: 28
Davis, W. R.
Menius, Jr., A. C.
Moss, Marvin K.
Philbrick, C. Russell
North Carolina State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Raleigh, NC, U.S.A.
Abstract
The energy output of ruby (Cr3+ in Al2O3) laser crystals operating at a given energy input level has been significantly increased by the effective use of gamma irradiation. Investigations of the effects of gamma rays on ruby crystals were initiated because it has been known for some time that the fluorescent and phosphorescent transitions of many crystals are considerably enhanced by either x-ray or gamma radiation. In particular, some crystals which do not fluoresce appreciably when excited with visible or ultraviolet light sources are found to fluoresce brilliantly with the same light source after prior irradiation with x- or gamma rays.
Keywords: laser, color centers, ionizing radiation
| Citation: | "Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Energy Output of Ruby Laser Crystals", Davis, W. R., A. C. Menius, Jr., M. K. Moss, C. R. Philbrick, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 36 No. 2, American Institute of Physics (AIP), 1965, pp. 670 - 672 |