Lasing in rare gases pumped by a transverse discharge

Results are presented of experimental investigations of lasing due to atomic transitions in rare gases in He–NF₃ (λ = 706.5 nm), Ne–NF₃ (λ = 585.3 nm), and Ar–NF₃ (λ = 750.4 nm) mixtures. It was found that when rare gas–halide mixtures were excited by a self-sustained discharge, an electronegative gas simultaneously ensured depopulation of the lower active level and enhanced the pumping efficiency. A more than tenfold increase in the radiation power for lasing at λ = 585.3 nm in an Ne–NF₃ mixture was obtained compared with an Ne–H₂ mixture.