Radio frequency excited CW gas ion lasers

Abstract

We report the designs and performances of He-Cd⁺, He-Kr⁺, He-Ar⁺, He-Se⁺, He-Cu⁺ (CuBr) and Ne-Cu⁺ (CuBr) lasers excited with the transverse capacitively coupled radio-frequency -discharge. At the similar laser output parameters the designs and operation of the radio-frequency excited lasers are much simpler than those of the hollow-cathode discharge lasers. Under singleline operation the radio-frequency excited He-Cd⁺ laser delivered output powers of 60mW at 441.6nm, 36mW at both 533.7nm and 537.8nm, and 14mW at both 635.5nm and 636.0nm. The output powers of the He-Kr+ laser were 22mW at 469.4nm, and 11mW at 431.8nm. Both lasers exhibited the rms noise-to-signal ratio (0.4-0.6%) much lower than that of conventional positive column He-Cd⁺ lasers. Using a He-CuBr gas mixture laser action on four infrared CuII lines (740.4nm, 766.5nm, 780.8nm and 782.0nm) was achieved and with a Ne-CuBr gas mixture laser gains on 14 UV-lines between 240.3nm and 272.2nm were observed.