Measurement of the lifetimes of the lower active levels of a copper vapor laser

Resonant absorption of radiation due to the ²D_3/2→²P⁰_1/2 and ²D_5/2→²P⁰_3/2 transitions in the copper atom was used to measure the lifetimes τ of the ²D_3/2 and ²D_5/2 states, which are the lower active levels of a copper vapor laser. It is found that at temperatures and pressures of the active medium typical of a copper vapor laser the lifetime is τ ~10^–6 sec and decreases as the power deposited in the discharge increases. Possible mechanisms for decay of the states under study are discussed.