The effect of He and Ne additives on the characteristics of an argon ion laser

Experiments were performed in a discharge tube 90 cm long and with a diameter of 8 mm at pulse durations of 100 microsec and currents of up to 450 A in a study of the effects of adding He and Ne to an argon ion laser. Measured values of electron density and temperature agree well with values computed from equations of balance and energy. Laser-output characteristics are found to be somewhat better for discharges in Ar-He or Ar-Ne than in pure Ar; the role of the additive appears to be a facilitation of discharge ignition at low partial pressures of argon and the suppression of plasma instability.