Copper bromide vapour laser excited by an electron beam

Lasing on self-terminating copper atom transitions is obtained for the first time by pumping the Ne – CuBr mixture by regular pulses and by a pulse train of low-energy electron beams formed in an 'open' discharge. In these regimes in a range of experimental conditions, a growth of power and radiation energy is demonstrated with an increase in the electron beam current and pulse repetition rate. In a double pulse excitation regime, the lasing energy is completely recovered in ~2.5 μs. In a central zone of the active element where CuBr molecules are totally dissociated, the specific lasing energy of ~44 μJ cm^-3 is obtained at a physical efficiency of 8.5%.