Characteristics of condensation of the emission spectra of tunable lasers

An experimental investigation was made of the characteristics of condensation (narrowing) of the emission spectra of tunable lasers with a plasma inside the resonator. It was found that plasma (Langmuir) oscillations played a role in mode locking and Q switching. Two spectral condensation regimes were observed and a correlation was found between the dynamic and spectral characteristics of laser radiation. It was established that under conditions of total spectral condensation a tunable laser emitted one mode and the spectral power of this mode was thus enhanced by between two and six orders of magnitude. Several tens of condensation lines were recorded when a plasma containing cerium was placed in a laser resonator.