Experimental and theoretical investigation of a coaxial pumped photolytic atomic bromine laser

This paper describes the results from a combined experimental theoretical investigation of a coaxial pumped photolytic bromine laser. A 532-nm pump was used to photodissociate IBr and produce Br*(/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/) with subsequent lasing on the (/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/)/spl rarr/(/sup 2/P/sub 3/2/) transition. Experimental results are presented for output energy, mode buildup time and small-signal gain as a function of pump energy and mirror outcoupling fraction. A simplified rate equation model was developed to predict the laser performance parameters and shows good agreement with the laser output energy and small-signal gain.