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The effect of small concentrations of nitrogen on an argon Z-pinch laser and the measurement of the inversion ratio

1972; Institute of Physics; Volume: 5; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1088/0022-3727/5/4/307

1361-6463

R. Illingworth,

Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications

The presence of nitrogen in small quantities in an argon Z-pinch laser is found experimentally to have a marked effect on the laser properties, 1·0 m Torr of nitrogen being sufficient to reduce the peak small-signal gain of the 3511·1 Å line by 0·85 m−1 in a 17 m Torr argon discharge. The reduction in small-signal gain is accompanied by a reduction in the intensity of the 3511·1 Å spontaneous emission but not, apparently, by any change in the plasma parameters. The collision process responsible for the change in the population of the upper laser level has not been identified. The maximum inversion ratio for the 3511·1 Å line is calculated from the impurity-induced population changes and is found to be 2·5±0·6.