Abstract

The nuclear analog of the ruby laser embodies the simplest of the concepts for a gamma-ray laser and, not surprisingly, the greatest rate of advance has occurred in this direction. Identification and exploitation of a bandwidth funnel in ruby were the critical keys in the development of the first laser. There was a broad absorption band exciting a state of Cr³⁺ which quickly decayed by cascading its population into levels of lower energy. A reasonably favorable pattern of branching insured that much of the cascading populated the narrow level.

© 1988 Optical Society of America