Critical electron density in a self-contained copper vapour laser in the restricted pulse repetition rate

摘要

One of the mechanisms of the inversion breaking in copper vapour lasers caused by a high prepulse electron density is considered. Inversion breaking occurs at a critical electron density N_(e cr). If the prepulse electron density exceeds N_(e cr), the electron temperature T_(e cr) cannot reach, during a plasma heating pulse, the temperature of ～2eV required for lasing. A simple estimate of N_(e cr) is made.