Formation of the active medium in lasers with rare-gas mixtures pumped by optical breakdown

A study was made of the parameters of the active media of lasers utilizing He–Xe (λ = 2.03 and 2.65μ) and He–Ar (λ = 1.79μ) mixtures of gases pumped by optical breakdown due to exposure to CO₂ laser radiation. It was found that lasing was the result of the combined effects of ultraviolet radiation and of a shock wave formed because of optical breakdown.