title: Chemical pumping through thermal decomposition of dimethyl peroxide.
abstract: A search for chemically pumped uv laser action in H(2)CO due to the thermal decomposition of CH(3)OOCH(3) is reported. Electrode ac discharge, and rf electrodeless discharge spectra of H(2)CO and CO augmented by chemical excitation via the reaction CH(3)OOCH(3) --> 2CH(3)O --> CH(3)OH + H(2)CO(*) are presented. The rate of production of excited state H(2)CO through thermal decomposition of CH(3)OOCH(3) is estimated by analysis of the kinetics of the reaction to be 2.3 x 10(18) cm(-3) sec(-1). The population inversion DeltaF of H(2)CO required to produce stimulated emission in the 4231-A vibronic line is calculated to be 3 x 10(14) cm(-3) as compared to an available DeltaF of 1.4 x 10(14) cm(Delta1). The possibility of using this thermal decomposition to produce excited collision partners for inducing laser action in other molecular or atomic species is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Solid State Physics Branch, Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., Santa Monica, California, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramoto