Remote air lasing for trace detection

Arthur Dogariu; James B. Michael; Richard B. Miles

doi:10.1117/12.884006

26 May 2011 Remote air lasing for trace detection

Arthur Dogariu, James B. Michael, Richard B. Miles

Proceedings Volume 8024, Advanced Environmental, Chemical, and Biological Sensing Technologies VIII; 80240H (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884006
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We demonstrate coherent light propagating backwards from a remotely generated high gain air laser. A short ultraviolet laser pulse tuned to a two-photon atomic oxygen electronic resonance at 226 nm simultaneously dissociates the oxygen molecules in air and excites the resulting atomic oxygen fragments. Due to the focal depth of the pumping laser, a millimeter long region of high gain is created in air for the atomic oxygen stimulated emission at 845nm. We demonstrate that the gain in excess of 60 cm^-1 is responsible for both forward and backwards emission of a strong, collimated, coherent laser beam. We present evidence for coherent emission and characterize the backscattered laser beam while varying the pumping conditions. The optical gain and directional emission allows for six orders of magnitude enhancement for the backscattered emission when compared with the fluorescence emission collected into the same solid angle. . This opens new opportunities for the remote detection capabilities of trace species, and provides much greater range for the detection of optical molecular and atomic features from a distant target.

Citation Download Citation

Arthur Dogariu, James B. Michael, and Richard B. Miles "Remote air lasing for trace detection", Proc. SPIE 8024, Advanced Environmental, Chemical, and Biological Sensing Technologies VIII, 80240H (26 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884006

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available