Abstract

At the nuclear level the storage of energy can approach terajoules (10¹² J) per liter for thousands of years. However, any plan to use such a resource for a gamma ray laser poses problems of a broad interdisciplinary nature requiring the fusion of concepts taken from previously unrelated fields of physics. Our research group has described several means through which this energy might be coupled to the radiation fields with cross sections for stimulated emission that could reach 10⁻⁷ cm². Such a stimulated release could lead to output powers as great as 3 × 10²¹ W/liter. Since 1978 we have pursued an approach for the upconversion of longer wavelength radiation incident on isomeric nuclear populations that can avoid many of the difficulties encountered with traditional concepts of single photon pumping. Recent experiments have confirmed the general feasibility and have indicated that a gamma ray laser is feasible if the right material exists. Of the 1886 distinguishable nuclear materials, the present state-of-the-art has been adequate to identify 29 first class candidates. A laser-grade data base of their nuclear properties does not yet exist, but the techniques for constructing one are currently being developed. Resolution of the question of the feasibility of a gamma ray laser now rests on the determination of (1) the identity of the best candidate, (2) the threshold level of laser output, and (3) the upconversion driver for that material.

© 1986 Optical Society of America