Characteristics of nuclear-pumped lasers based on the 3p — 3s transitions in the neon atom

An atmospheric-pressure neon laser pumped by uranium fission fragments was investigated. In the case of ternary He — Ne — Ar(Kr, Xe) mixtures the maximum radiation power (35 W) of the 585.3 nm line was obtained for the He:Ne:Ar = 250:5:2 mixture at 2 bar. The lasing parameters of binary Ne — Ar(Kr, Xe) mixtures were optimised separately for the 703.2 and 724.5 nm lines by varying the concentration of Ar (or Kr or Xe). In the red part of the spectrum the maximum power (40 W) was obtained for the 724.5 nm line in a mixture of the composition He:Ne:Kr = 90:300:1 at 1.3 bar. Lasing was not observed in He — Ne — H₂ or Ne — H₂ mixtures. A study was made of the influence of the H₂ admixtures on the characteristics of He — Ne — Ar(Kr) lasers.