Laser resonance saturation

Abstract

We have developed a simplified collisional‐radiative computer code for modeling the ionization of sodium vapor by a short pulse of intense laser radiation tuned to saturate one of the resonance transitions. This code predicts that plasma temperatures somewhat lower than had been previously expected can be produced when attenuation of the laser pulse is taken into account. We have confirmed these results in a preliminary experiment using a sodium heat sandwich oven that provides 360° optical access.