SHORT ACTIVE LENGTH INFRARED CU-II LASER

Laser action was obtained at the Cu-II 781 nm transition in a slotted hollow cathode discharge having a short active length of 3 cm. A threshold current of 0.3 A was observed which compares well with the value of 0.2 A reported earlier by Warner et al. The laser could be operated at discharge currents considerably higher than threshold, the maximum laser power was 1.6 mW at a discharge current of 2 A. Results on the dependence of laser power on discharge parameters are presented. © 1990.