Acquisition of a Fluorine Laser for Laboratory Studies of the Earth's Atmosphere

Sri International, Menlo Park CA

Investigators

Abstract

This project solicits support to acquire a state-of-the-art fluorine laser to be used in laboratory studies of atmospheric processes. SRI International will host this laser system in a modern laser laboratory that will be made available to the atmospheric research community as a shared facility. With this system, large quantities of oxygen atoms can be generated under conditions with a low concentration of residual oxygen molecules. These conditions mimic those in the upper atmosphere of the Earth and will permit the study of collisional processes that would be difficult or impossible to study with other methods. This laser will make possible a series of laboratory studies addressing important unresolved problems in the fields of aeronomy and atmospheric science.