For the first time, lasing at NV− centers in an optically pumped diamond sample is achieved. A nanosecond train of 150-ps 532-nm laser pulses was used to pump the sample. The lasing pulses have central wavelength at 720 nm with a spectrum width of 20 nm, 1-ns duration and total energy around 10 nJ. In a pump-probe scheme, we investigate lasing conditions and gain saturation due to NV− ionization and NV0 concentration growth under high-power laser pulse pumping of diamond crystal.

This paper presents research data on cathodoluminescence, photoluminescence, and Cherenkov radiation at 200–800 nm excited in crystals with different refractive indices by a subnanosecond runaway electron beam and by KrCl excilamp radiation with a peak wavelength of 222 nm. The data include spectral and amplitude-time characteristics measured with a resolution of up to ∼100 ps for natural and synthetic diamonds of type IIa, sapphire, CsI, ZnS, CaF2, ZrO2, Ga2O3, CaCO3, CdS, and ZnSe. The research suggests that cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence should be accounted for in Cherenkov-type detectors of runaway electrons. The results can be useful for detecting high-energy electrons in tokamaks.

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The paper presents the results of Cherenkov radiation (CR) studies in various crystals excited by nanosecond and subnanosecond electron beams with an electron energy of up to 400 and 200 keV, respectively. These studies are motivated by the need to develop and create calibrated sensors of runaway electrons for tokamak-type installations. The spectral and amplitude-time characteristics of the radiation of different specimens of diamonds, leucosapphire, and KU-1 quartz excited by the electron beams were obtained and compared. These crystals were chosen on the basis of their transparency in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. CR was observed with a spectrometer. An increase in the radiation energy with decreasing wavelength was observed in synthetic diamonds of IIa type, leucosapphire, and KU-1 quartz. The amplitude-time characteristics of the radiation of crystals, including CR, were measured with a photodiode having a pulse response time of up to ≈80 ps. In chemical vapor deposited high purity diamonds excited by both nanosecond and subnanosecond beams, an exciton radiation with a maximum at 235 nm was observed. Results show that leucosapphire and quartz can be used to create detectors of electrons with energies above 200 keV.