Line broadening and saturation parameters for short-pulse high-pressure iodine photodissociation laser systems

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Abstract
With an increase in pressure in the iodine photodissociation laser line, overlap of the six hyperfine components occurs. The dependence of the stimulated emission cross-section on pressure has been calculated allowing for this effect. For short-pulse amplification without significant pulse broadening, a relationship between pulse width (tp) and pressure (P atm) is obtained as tp>or=4.4*10-10 P-1 s. An analysis is made of gain saturation in iodine amplifiers based on a hyperfine level model with ground state cross-relaxation. It is found that at an argon gas pressure of 5 atm suitable for 100 ps pulse amplification the saturation energy is 1.1 J cm-2 and 0.95 of the stored energy is available in saturated amplification.