Quasi-cw stimulated emission at λ = 585.3 nm from NeI in an Ne–H2 mixture excited by a longitudinal discharge with preionization

A high-voltage pulsed discharge with preionization was used in excitation of an active mixture of an Ne–H₂ laser resulting in the emission of a line at λ = 585.5 nm from NeI. An increase in the hydrogen concentration in the mixture caused the output pulse to shift from the afterglow stage to a pump pulse. Quasi-cw lasing with the maximum of the output radiation coinciding in time with the maximum of the discharge current was observed when the ratio of the components of the mixture was Ne:H₂ = 1:1 and the pressure was p_Ne–H2 = 60 Torr. Lasing was observed under superradiance conditions when energy of the output pulses was 150 μJ. The parameters of the plasma were determined and it was shown that recombination filling of the active levels during excitation played the dominant role.