GAIN MEASUREMENTS OF HIGH-PRESSURE ULTRAVIOLET-PREIONIZED SELF-SUSTAINED DISCHARGE PUMPED ATOMIC XENON LASER

To explore the laser kinetics of atomic xenon lasers pumped by an ultraviolet-preionized, self-sustained discharge, time-resolved small-signal gains are measured using a long-pulse probe laser. Faster electron mixing processes among excited xenon manifolds in the 6p state may affect the small-signal gain distribution among 1.73, 2.03, and 2.65-mu-m laser lines, which share the same upper laser level Xe(5d[3/2]1) at excitation rates in excess of 160 kW/cm3. When the excitation rate in a late part of the discharge is increased, absorption caused by repumping of the lower laser level is observed at 1.73-mu-m. The measured gains are discussed in conjunction with multiline laser oscillation performance obtained by the same laser device.