Lasing of Ar II and Ne II ions pumped by an optical breakdown produced by a CO2 laser

Lasing was achieved for the first time for the rare gas ions Ar II (λ = 454.5 and 427.8 nm) and NeII(λ = 332.4 and 334.5 nm) pumped by short-wavelength radiation from an optical-breakdown plasma generated by a CO₂ laser. Some alternative mechanisms for the formation of the active medium under optical breakdown conditions are discussed.