Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, identifying a molecule of a sample includes illuminating the sample with a preparation light beam, where the preparation light beam can initiate a substantially maximized coherence of a target molecule to yield a molecular signature corresponding to the target molecule. The sample is illuminated with a probe light beam, where the probe light beam can scatter radiation from the sample. Radiation scattered from the sample is detected, and whether the radiation exhibits the molecular signature is determined. The target molecule is identified in accordance with the determination of whether the radiation exhibits the molecular signature.

Abstract: A new type of atom guiding structure has been analyzed. It consists of a low-core optical fiber (step-index) which is not clad, but instead has a metal coating on its outer lateral surface. It will be shown that this structure produces the maximum evanescent field in the hollow region of the fiber and guiding can be accomplished with lower power lasers. Both the dipole and the vander Waals potentials have been combined and the resulting barrier height was maximized as a function of both .DELTA., the detuning, and r, the position. An optimized potential having a barrier height of 1 K has been determined by iteratively solving for the required laser intensity. The probability of atoms tunneling through this barrier to the inner wall has been calculated and is expected to be unimportant. Centripetal effects due to a bending of the fiber have also been estimated and are small for the barrier considered here.

Abstract: A system for optically coupling an intense photon output from an explosively shock-heated gas to a laser amplifier for the generation of a very high power optical pulse. A laser amplifier element preferably a dye laser type is centrally located within and supported by an enclosed hexahedron housing filled with a visible or infrared absorbing solution. Each leg of the hexahedron has secured thereto a pyramidal shaped (a pyramid with the apex end cut off parallel with the base) gas filled lamp for pumping the laser amplifier element. Each gas lamp is provided with a liner of explosive material along the inside of the outermost surface which is ignited by an electrical detonator. Detonation of the explosive liner produces an imploding shock wave which raises the argon gas to incandescence to excite the liquid dye laser amplifier to produce a population inversion necessary for laser amplification.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring small gain or losses in a laser cavity. The method includes placing a sample in a cell in a two beam system in which one beam polarized in one direction passes through the cell while the other beam of different polarization does not pass through the cell. The ratio of the two polarizations with the sample in and out of the cell in the system determines a measure of the effect of the sample on the system. The ratios are measured with the sample cell empty and then with the sample in the cell.