Multiwave lasing in an electron-beam-pumped Ar–Xe mixture

Some results are given of theoretical and experimental investigations of lasing in an Ar–Xe mixture pumped by an electron beam. A kinetic model of an XeI laser was developed to take into account the level structure of the 6p and 5d states of xenon. The calculations were in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data in a wide range of pump pulse durations and beam densities. The calculated high efficiency (~ 2%) at low beam current densities and an operating pressure of ~ 1 atm resulted from a reduction in the rate of quenching of the upper active level by the electrons. High-power lasing at λ = 2.03 μm was obtained at high pump levels of an Ar–Xe–He mixture. The addition of helium led to an increase in the laser efficiency.