title: Photoionization in alkali lasers.
abstract: We have calculated photoionization rates in alkali lasers. The photoionization of alkali atoms in the gain medium of alkali lasers can significantly degrade the laser performance by reducing the neutral alkali density and with it the gain. For a ten atmosphere Rb laser and a Cs exciplex laser, the photoionization induced alkali atom loss rates are greater than 10(5) sec(-1). These high loss rates will quickly deplete the neutral alkali density, reducing gain, and may require fast, possibly, supersonic flow rates to sufficiently replenish the neutral medium for CW operation.
authors.affiliation: US Air Force Academy, Department of Physics, Laser and Optics Research Center, 2354 Fairchild Dr., Ste. 2A31,USAF Academy, Colorado 80840, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Knize
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Zhdanov
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shaffer