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Mcilrath, T. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Mcilrath, T. J..

18 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Resonance fluorescence in atmospheric gases

This program exists to provide support for the balloon stratospheric remote sensing program. Its purpose is to provide laboratory data and engineering support for the remote sensing effort. The goals and efforts are chosen in reponse to both short term and long term needs of the lidar effort. Progress was made on interfacing a Fizeau wave meter to a microcomputer in a way that is compatible with the electronics of the stratospheric balloon system. Installation was begun on a low divergence excimer laser system.

Mcilrath, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Theoretical study relating the two-photon absorption cross section to the susceptibility controlling four-wave mixing

A theory that it is necessary to extract a two-photon absorption cross section from a mixing signal is developed. The dependence of the cross section on the third-order susceptibility is shown and both the mixing signal and reference signal dependences on the susceptibility are given. Techniques to process the measured value of the susceptibility and relate it to the cross section are developed and limits of validity are established. Finally, a comparison is made between the expression for the cross section presently reported and values given elsewhere.

Burris, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence of selected even-parity 7p states of Xe I

Lifetimes and self-quenching rates have been measured for excited states of Xe I that were populated using simultaneous two-photon absorption. Lifetimes measured in this study are somewhat shorter than those measured using the broadband-excitation technique. Lifetimes reported here are all faster than 100 nsec. Deactivation rates are approximately 2 x 10 to the -10th cu cm/sec per mol.

Mcgee, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Fizeau wavemeter for pulsed laser wavelength measurement

A Fizeau wavelength meter optimized for use with pulsed laser sources has been developed and characterized which demonstrates a CW resolution better than 2 parts in 10 to the 7th and a pulsed resolution better than 1 part in 10 to the 6th. The static optical design is based on a Fizeau wedge interferometer, which together with spatial filtering and collimating optics is used to produce a pattern of parallel fringes which is imaged on a linear photodiode array and analyzed by a minicomputer. A series of CW and pulsed measurements of various narrowband laser sources are described, and particular difficulties involved in pulsed laser measurements with the wavemeter are examined.

Morris, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Absolute OH absorption cross sections (for lidar measurements)

Experimental data are employed to calculate absorption cross sections for several rotational lines in the OH A-X system. The cross sections are computed as functions of the spectral and line widths and temperature of a laser beam, and account for lifetimes and branching ratios. Detection limits for the P1(2) transition of the (1,0) band were examined. The oscillator strengths and cross-sections obtained are important for quantifying OH concentrations in the stratosphere from lidar return signals.

Mcgee, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Fluorescence branching ratios from the A2Sigma + (v-prime = 0) state of NO

The emission spectrum of NO from several rotational levels in the first excited state has been recorded. Branching ratios have been measured and Franck-Condon Factors calculated from the experimental data. Lifetimes of the lines used have been measured and Einstein A-values calculated.

Mcgee, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Portable high-resolution laser monochromator-interferometer with multichannel electronic readout

A high-resolution 0.4-m monochromator is described for use in wavelength diagnosis of tunable pulsed and CW laser sources in the 3000-10,000-A region. The f/20 design uses an echelle grating in an over-and-under Ebert configuration with a scanned photodiode array to provide a real-time multichannel display of spectral output. Absolute wavelength may be determined to 0.1 A with the monochromator, and a Fabry-Perot interferometer attachment extends linewidth measurement capability to 0.01 A or better. Spectra are displayed on a storage oscilloscope, and calculation of laser parameters is explained. The instrument measures 70 cm long x 15 cm wide x 20 cm high.

Morris, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Atmospheric lidar research applying to H2O, O2 and aerosols

Experimental research on a near infrared tunable dye laser was reported, and theoretical simulations were presented for various lidar configurations. The visible and nearinfrared wavelengths considered were suitable for observations of aerosols, water vapor, molecular oxygen pressure and temperature in the troposphere and above. The first phase of development work was described on a ruby pumped, tunable dye laser for the wavelength region 715 to 740 nanometers. Lidar simulations were summarized for measurements of H2O and for two color lidar observations of aerosols in the atmosphere.

Mcilrath, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Absorption spectrum of the laser-populated 3D metastable levels in barium

This paper deals with the details of the absorption spectrum of the 3D metastable term in barium. The 3D term was selectively populated with a tuneable dye laser. The fundamental triplet series (6s5d 3D-6snf 3F) is identified and extended out to n = 32. In addition, the absolute photoionization cross section was measured at 303 nm. The relative cross section from 303 to 250 nm was also measured with the absolute scale set by the measurement at 303 nm and was found to be nearly constant in the wavelength region measured.

Carlsten, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Perturbation of the calcium principal series by metastable calcium atoms

The absorption of the principal series of calcium is observed with about 4% of the atoms placed in the 4s4p 3P level by selective laser excitation, and is compared with the absorption with all atoms in the ground state. We observe a broadening of the absorption lines accompanied by a shift to longer wavelengths and the occurrence of satellite lines at shorter wavelengths.

Mcilrath, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Populating excited states of incoherent atoms using coherent light.

Study of the influence of various experimental parameters on the interaction between a multimode high-intensity laser light and the absorbing atoms of an atomic gas. Using a simplified treatment of line broadening which does not include correlations between momentum-changing collisions and pressure-broadening collisions, expressions are obtained that show the effect of pressure, laser-pulse length, and intensity on the excitation. It is found that, as long as the dephasing time of the atomic system is sufficiently short, the interaction reduces to a two-body collision between the atoms and photons, where coherence effects do not occur.

Mcilrath, T. J.↗