Influence of the electron temperature on the characteristics of an He–Cd laser excited by a pulsed electron beam

A numerical investigation was made of the time and energy characteristics of the radiation emitted at wavelengths of 441.6 and 537.8 nm by a high-pressure He–Cd laser excited by microsecond electron-beam pulses. It was reported that the efficiency of lasing at the wavelength of 537.8 nm depends on the pump duration and increases on reduction in this duration. A method for increasing the laser power in the case of long pump pulses is proposed: it involves an increase in the electron temperature in an He–Cd plasma by an external electric field. The optimal intensity of this field is determined. It is shown that the power of the output radiation can be modulated by pulsing the applied field.