Optimum operating conditions of a hollow-cathode Au-II laser

L. Szalai; Tadeusz M. Adamowicz; A. Tokarz; G. Bano; K. Kutasi; Z. Donko; Karoly Rozsa

doi:10.1117/12.320953

19 August 1998 Optimum operating conditions of a hollow-cathode Au-II laser

L. Szalai, Tadeusz M. Adamowicz, A. Tokarz, G. Bano, K. Kutasi, Z. Donko, Karoly Rozsa

Proceedings Volume 3573, OPTIKA '98: 5th Congress on Modern Optics; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.320953
Event: OPTIKA '98: Fifth Congress on Modern Optics, 1998, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract

Laser operation on the Au-II 282.3 nm ultraviolet transition was obtained from a high-voltage, segmented hollow-cathode discharge tube. The excitation mechanism of the laser is charge transfer collisions of He⁺ ions and ground state Au atoms resulting from the sputtering of the gold- coated cathode. The high gain provided by the special hollow cathode construction made it possible to operate the laser with external mirrors on the ultraviolet 282.3 nm line. For the efficient pumping of the laser, high density of both He⁺ ions and Au atoms must be present in the discharge. Increased cathode sputtering, thus higher Au atom density can be achieved using a small amount of a heavier noble gas (e.g. Ar) in the helium buffer gas. On the other hand, the presence of Ar--due to its low ionization potential and high ionization cross section--reduces the energy of electrons and thus the ionization rate of helium. Measurements of the laser power and small signal gain indicate that the optimum partial pressure of argon is in the order of 0.25 - 0.75%.

Citation Download Citation

L. Szalai, Tadeusz M. Adamowicz, A. Tokarz, G. Bano, K. Kutasi, Z. Donko, and Karoly Rozsa "Optimum operating conditions of a hollow-cathode Au-II laser", Proc. SPIE 3573, OPTIKA '98: 5th Congress on Modern Optics, (19 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.320953

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