LASER ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

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Abstract

The adaptation of currently available laser capabilities to chemical studies is an important phase of the current laser development. This suggests, at first thought, the possibility of a new dimension in photochemical experimentation. Traditional photochemistry has been extensively and intensively investigated in recent years,'-' and the subject has become rather precisely delimited It may not, therefore, be particularly fruitful at this moment to try to force laser chemical studies into this framework. Rather, it would appear preferable to see what can be done within an enlarged set of concepts. The various types of laser sources presently available for such studies have been described previously.8-z6 The types of new developments in laser technology needed for chemical experiments are (1) lasers with sustained and higher power output; (2) additional operational frequencies especially at shorter wave lengths; and (3) a better understanding of the mode of interaction between focused coherent radiation and matter. All of these are under what appears to be rather intensive investigation. Thus it has been recently announcedz2 that a UV (3371A) laser is available. Sustained power output is being increased in current developments but is still rather low in terms of traditional chemical operations. The peculiar optical characteristics of the laser have also been described previouslylz% 1 9 3 2 5 3 26 and need only be referred to in terms of their unusual chemical capabilities. It is polarized and pulsed, and these factors offer opportunities for studies with optically active organic compounds and using flash photolysis techniques. It is in phase (coherent), and it has been said that it can be focused to give intensities of 1015 watts per cm.' lo8 times that at the surface of the 25