Electric discharge N2 laser with added SF6 and He

The results are given of investigations of an electric-discharge N₂ laser with a 4 × 4 × 25-cm active volume. Using an N₂–SF₆ mixture as the active medium, it was possible to raise the laser output energy considerably relative to that with pure nitrogen. The maximum radiation output energy of 40 mJ was obtained for a mixture containing 75 Torr of N₂ and 30 Torr of SF₆. This exceeds the energies previously achieved for electric-discharge N₂ lasers. It was found that by diluting the N₂–SF₆ mixture with helium it was possible, without lowering the laser output energy, to control its distribution within the 337.1- and 357.6-nm lines. A mechanism of the observed behavior is discussed. The realization of a regime with simultaneous lasing in the ultraviolet and infrared regions is reported. Lasing was obtained from N₂ and HF molecules in an N₂–SF₆–H₂ mixture.