Title :
Recombination lasers in a flowing negative glow discharge
Author :
Wernsman, B. ; Rocca, Jorge J. ; Mancini, Hector L. ; Schinca, Daniel ; Tocho, J.O.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, USA
fDate :
9/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A fast gas flow through a negative glow plasma creates an afterglow region where supercooled electrons are separated from energetic beam electronsto produce a population inversion by collisional recombination. A report on spatially resolved electron temperature measurements of the afterglow plasma showing electron temperatures in the range of 750-1100 K under steady-state conditions is presented. A 4-cm-long flowing hollow cathode discharge was used to obtain CW (continuous wave) recombination laser oscillation in ArI. Collisional recombination of singly and doubly ionized metal vapor species in the same type of plasma also produced pulsed laser action in infrared lines of PbI, ZnI, PbII, and SnII. The addition of H2 is demonstrated to significantly increase the laser output intensity
Keywords :
gas lasers; ion lasers; laser variables measurement; lead; population inversion; tin; zinc; 4 cm; 750 to 1100 K; Ar I; CW recombination lasers; Pb; Pb I; Pb II; Sn; Sn II; Zn; Zn I; Zn+; afterglow region; collisional recombination; energetic beam electrons; fast gas flow; flowing hollow cathode discharge; flowing negative glow discharge; ionized metal vapor species; negative glow plasma; population inversion; pulsed laser action; spatially resolved electron temperature measurements; steady-state conditions; supercooled electrons; Electron beams; Fluid flow; Gas lasers; Glow discharges; Laser beams; Particle beams; Plasma measurements; Plasma temperature; Plasma waves; Spontaneous emission;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
