The use of magnetic rotation spectroscopy (Faraday effect) to reduce the effects of source noise and improve sensitivity of spectroscopy with color center lasers has been analyzed theoretically and tested experimentally on the vibrational overtone band of NO. Sensitivity improvement of a factor of 30 compared with simple Zeeman modulation has been demonstrated. As an example of this technique, the first observation of the fundamental vibrational band of the OH radical in absorption is reported.
Doping of alkali halides with large amounts (10−3 to 10−2) of OH− defects can be used to drastically increase the production and stabilization of F 2+ centers. Under electron irradiation, the coloration efficiency and F2:F ratio is increased, and the OH− defect is decomposed into various substitutional and interstitial hydrogen and oxygen defects, part of which work as electron traps. As a consequence, optical ionization of F2 centers leads to stable F 2+ center production, as tested in LiF, NaF, NaCl, KCl, and KBr hosts. Tuneable laser operation is achieved for the first time for F 2+ centers in NaCl and KCl using this technique. A systematic study into the decomposition kinetics of OH− defects is started, which reveals the existence of a new hydrogen defect, identified by its ir local mode absorption, which may play the crucial role in the F 2+ stabilization.
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