Diode pumped nanoparticle gas laser physics: a preliminary modeling study.

Nanoparticles are one of the attractive building blocks for nanotechnology and offer new possibilities for novel lasers. The rare earth doped nanoparticle gas laser possesses the great potential in high energy laser (HEL) operation because it inherently combines the advantages of commercial broadband diode pumping and gas flow thermal management. By taking Yb³⁺ doped nanoparticle gas laser as the main object, a modified model, which considers some main peculiar characteristics of nanoparticles, is set up and analyzed. The model includes special considerations of the scattering influence of nanoparticles, and the modifications of Yb³⁺ fluorescence lifetime as well as the cross sections, which distinguishes it from the traditional lasers. Some main influencing factors are simulated and discussed, including the Yb³⁺ concentration, gain length and the output coupler etc., and the energy conversion channels of absorbed pump power are analyzed. The results predict a slope efficiency of greater than 60% at reasonable conditions. The modeling provides a new horizon for further study of the scientists and engineers in the field of HEL.