Laser on copper and gold vapors with space diversity media

Energy and time characteristics of stimulated radiation in copper and gold vapors with simultaneously self limited transitions are studied experimentally under conditions designed to favor efficient emission. The temperature drop in copper and gold zones could be varied from + or - 50 to 200 K, the pressure of the inert gas could be varied from 0.5 to 20 kPa. The integral radiation spectrum of Cu+Au+Ne plasma and the energy distribution between peaks reveal an attenuation of the Ne lines as steady state emission is reached. Oscillograms of voltage pulses and transients of spontaneous emission intensity at individual spectral lines corresponding to the two modes of media diversity and recorded at various heating levels indicate the feasibility of producing a high efficiency (0.3-0.5%) high power (0.5-4 W) multifrequency laser by optimizing the active volumes and the space diversity as well as other parameters of the discharge system. Additional data are obtained with Ba+Pb+Ne and Cu+Ba+Pb+Ne media.