Operating Characteristics and Upper Level Population Mechanisms in the 7558-Å He-Zn Hollow Cathode Laser
Abstract
The optimum parameters for the output power characteristics in a coaxial-type He-Zn hollow cathode laser tube operating at 7588 Å in ZnII and population mechanisms of the 5p2P3/20 upper laser level are investigated. The optimum helium pressure and anode temperature corresponding to the zinc vapor pressure are 13-14 Torr and about 420°C, respectively. No saturation or turnover in the laser power is found up to a discharge current of 2 A under these optimum conditions. The dominant excitation process for the upper laser level is the radiative cascade via the 6102 Å transition emitting from the 5d2D5/2 level. At the high anode temperature region, however, the electron de-excitation process plays an important role in populating the 5p2P3/20 level.
- Publication:
-
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1143/JJAP.17.1099
- Bibcode:
- 1978JaJAP..17.1099I
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Transitions;
- Gas Lasers;
- Helium;
- Hollow Cathodes;
- Laser Outputs;
- Population Inversion;
- Electric Discharges;
- Electron Pumping;
- Pressure Effects;
- Temperature Effects;
- Threshold Currents;
- Vapor Pressure;
- Zinc;
- Lasers and Masers