Laser spectroscopy is a fundamental method for chemists to analyze and characterise properties of various samples. However, lasers are expensive and not every university or college can afford these lasers for their students to use and learn from. This research focuses on building a nitrogen gas laser based on a Cornell College design, in which nitrogen gas is excited, via an electrical spark, to a metastable state, before decaying back to a ground state, resulting in a laser beam. When optimized, this laser will be more affordable than mainstream lasers. This will allow for students to be able to have hands on access to laser spectroscopy in an undergraduate setting, which is currently uncommon.

Building and optimizing a nitrogen gas laser

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.