Numerical simulation, comparison with experiments, and potentialities of Mn vapour lasers pumped by a kilovolt electron beam

A physicomathemetical model is proposed for a vapour laser containing Mn mixed with He (or Ne) and pumped by a beam of electrons whose energy is several kiloelectron volts. This model is based on a simultaneous solution of equations describing the electron energy distribution function, point laser kinetics, and plasma relaxation during an interpulse period. The principal laser and plasma characteristics obtained with the aid of this model are in agreement with experimental results for a tube 2.3 cm in diameter. The average specific output power of the Mn vapour laser (at λ = 0.54 μm) can reach 1 kW litre^–1 and the physical efficiency is 6 – 8%. The results of numerical optimisation of Mn vapour lasers are compared with similar results for Cu vapour lasers. According to these results, the average power per unit length of a tube 10 cm in diameter should be 1 – 2 kW m^–1 for both systems and the physical efficiency should be 5 – 6%.