TEMPORAL AND RADIAL EVOLUTION OF THE POPULATIONS OF CUI LEVELS IN THE CUBR VAPOR LASER

Populations of CuI ground state, resonance, and metastable levels have been measured in CuBr laser with and without hydrogen additives. Temporal evolution and spatial distribution populations have been studied during the excitation pulse and also during the interpulse period of time. Addition of hydrogen results in a smaller rate of resonance and metastable levels excitation and smaller depopulation of the ground state during the excitation pulse. Repopulation of the ground state after the excitation pulse with hydrogen is much faster. CuBr molecules have been detected only in the periphery of the active zone. The density of the CuBr molecules had no noticeable change neither during the excitation pulse nor in the interpulse period. The results observed may be explained in terms of a decrease of copper ionization during the excitation pulse in an active medium with hydrogen additives.