Gas lasers

A review is given of the present status of gas discharge lasers, with particular attention to developments reported in 1965 and early 1966. Following a brief history, gas lasers are classified by types--neutral atom, ion, and molecular--and a comparison is given of the properties of the various types. A short discussion is given of noise and coherence properties. Detailed descriptions are given of three recent developments of particular interest--the CO2laser, the argon-ion laser, and pulsed self-terminating lasers. Finally, brief mention is made of the most important present applications of gas lasers.