Investigation of the role of buffer gases in the operation of an Xe laser utilizing the 5d [3/2]10–6p[3/2]1 transition

Continuous lasing at the 2.026 μ wavelength was achieved for the first time in low-pressure H₂–Xe and Ar–Xe gas mixtures. The Lamb dip was absent up to pressures of 1 Pa in pure xenon, and also for lasing in mixtures which contained buffer gases. The dependences of the output power on the pressures of the xenon and of He, H₂, and Ar buffer gases were determined. The optimal gas pressures for the maximum laser output power were found. An estimate was made of the role of inelastic collisions with the buffer gas in the transfer between the levels of the 5d group. A calculation was made modeling the influence of the postulated physical laser processes on the output power and the shape of the tuning curves.