Spectral composition of stimulated radiation from a pulsed copper vapor laser

An investigation was made of the spectral composition of the spontaneous radiation, superradiance, and laser radiation emitted by a pulsed copper vapor laser. The time resolution was about 3 nsec. It was found that the observed spectral structure of the laser radiation and superradiance was governed by the hyperfine and isotopic splitting of the active levels of the copper atom. In the absence of saturation of the active medium a narrowing of the spectral line profiles was observed during a superradiance pulse. When saturation was achieved for superradiance and lasing, the line profiles broadened to the width of the spontaneous emission line during a radiation pulse. It was found that the temperature of the gas in the copper vapor laser did not exceed 2500K.