Characteristics of a hollow-cathode cw He–Cd–Hg laser

A direct-current excitation of a mixture of helium with cadmium and mercury vapors in a hollow-cathode discharge ensured efficient lasing resulting in simultaneous emission of dark blue and green lines of the cadmium ion and of the red line of the mercury ion. The total output power was about 10 mW. The ratio of the powers of the various lines could be varied within a wide range by altering the vapor pressure and the discharge current.