Investigation of the factors limiting the service life of a copper bromide vapor laser

An experimental study was made of the factors limiting the service life of a sealed pulsed copper bromide vapor laser. In the operating regime, the entire laser discharge tube was heated in such a way that the lowest temperature of 430 °C was maintained in side arms containing the active substance. The discharge tube was operated for a period of 335 h, after which it was opened up and subjected to an investigation. During the operating period the laser output power fell from 3.6 to 2.0 W, mainly due to the deposition of copper on the exit windows. Gross discharge and lasing instabilities were observed toward the end of the operating period and these were explained by the observed increase in the bromine concentration in the tube during the laser operation.