Longitudinal emission intensity measurements for the metals Co, Ni, and Mn in the gas phase in a positive column He discharge tube, where the source of the metal is the corresponding metal chloride contained in a conventional appendage reservoir, have been made. The conditions of the discharge were similar to those of a typical metal vapor laser and concentrations of these nonvolatile metals achieved which are comparable to the positive column lasers. The longitudinal dependence of the Cl+and various metal atom concentrations illustrates that they are strongly bound together by chemical recombination occurring on the wall of the bore. The failure of such a system to maintain Cu in any appreciable concentration illustrates its limits of applicability, but investigations of laser action in numerous new metal vapor systems should be possible.
展开▼