NEON-HYDROGEN PENNING PLASMA LASER IN A HELICAL HALLOW-CATHODE DISCHARGE

A Penning plasma laser (PPL) operating at the NeI 585.3 nm and NeI 1.15-mu-m lines in Ne-H-2 mixture has been realized. Helical configuration of the electrodes was used. The dependence of the laser-pulse shape and output power on current pulse duration and amplitude values were investigated. Peak output powers of 1.5 W for the yellow line and 1.2 W for the IR line have been measured. The population inversion mechanism for the 585.3 nm line is discussed in the frames of a model for PPL. The main factor maintaining the population inversion on both lines is depopulation of the Ne(1s2) level by Penning reactions with H-2.