Fission-fragment nuclear lasing of Ar(He)-Xe

Abstract
Nuclear‐pumped lasing of Ar‐Xe and He‐Xe has been demonstrated using 235UF6 fission‐fragment excitation. Fission fragments were created by absorption of thermal neutrons in a combination of gaseous 235UF6 and laser‐tube wall coatings formed from UF6 chemical reaction products. At a pressure of 600 Torr Ar–(3%) Xe, lasing occurred at 2.65 μm in Xe. Up to 3 Torr of gaseous 235UF6 was added to 600 Torr Ar‐Xe before serious laser quenching occurred. With 3 Torr of 235UF6 added, 38% of the energy deposition came from gaseous UF6 and the remainder from the uranium wall coating. The neutron flux at lasing threshold was found to be 4×1015 n/cm2 sec.

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