Transverse-discharge copper vapor laser

A study was made of a copper vapor laser pumped by a radial transverse discharge at pressures of up to 1.5  atm. It was found that a sufficient reduction of the parasitic inductance of the laser discharge circuit could ensure a high efficiency. A physical efficiency of 5.3% was achieved. It was also found that the use of vaporizers enabled substantially improved output parameters to be obtained for a laser with a radial transverse discharge. It was established that by circulating the Cu–Ne active mixture one could overcome the limitation imposed on the pump power by the release of heat in the Cu-laser active medium. Lasing was produced in copper vapor using a pulsed hollow-cathode discharge. The laser output power was 1.2 W and a physical efficiency of 5% was achieved, while the specific output power energy was 15 μ J/cm³.