Dynamics of small-signal amplification in the active media of Penning NeI lasers

The method of direct laser probing was used to investigate the time dependences of the small-signal gain of the active media of lasers based on the 3p–3s transitions in the Ne I atom. These media were pumped by an electron beam with a current density 1.7 A cm^-2. The amplitudes of the small-signal gain of optimised (in respect of the output energy) laser mixtures were 1.7×10^-2 and 1.0×10^-2 cm^-1 at the wavelengths 725 and 585 nm, respectively.