Critical electron density in a self-contained a 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. The inversion breaking occurs at a critical electron density N{sub}(ecr). If the prepulse electron density exceeds N{sub}(ecr), the electron temperature T{sub}(ecr) cannot achieve during a plasma heating pulse, a temperature of ～2 eV required for lasing. A simple estimate of N{sub}(ecr) is made.