Exploratory Study of Metal Vapor Lasers Operating in the Ultra-Violet at Kilowatt Power Levels. Final Report, June 1, 1975--March 31, 1979

摘要

Cw laser action has been extended down to 220 nm. Moreover, cw oscillation has been obtained on twenty additional transitions in the spectral range between 220 and 320 nm. Ultra-violet laser thresholds as low as 2 A have been observed. In comparison, rare gas ion lasers require 20 to 50 A to reach threshold. Metals of interest are sputtered into the discharge giving metal densities of 10 exp 14 atoms cm exp -3 without using external ovens or discharge heating. Recent attempts to scale the output power levels to 1 W cw are presented with particular emphasis on the 780 nm transitions of Cu II and the 840 nm transitions of Ag II. (ERA citation 04:052077)