title: Optically pumped microplasma rare gas laser.
abstract: The optically pumped rare-gas metastable laser is a chemically inert analogue to three-state optically pumped alkali laser systems. The concept requires efficient generation of electronically excited metastable atoms in a continuous-wave (CW) electric discharge in flowing gas mixtures near atmospheric pressure. We have observed CW optical gain and laser oscillation at 912.3 nm using a linear micro-discharge array to generate metastable Ar(4s, 1s(5)) atoms at atmospheric pressure. We observed the optical excitation of the 1s(5) → 2p(9) transition at 811.5 nm and the corresponding fluorescence, optical gain and laser oscillation on the 2p(10) ↔ 1s(5) transition at 912.3 nm, following 2p(9)→2p(10) collisional energy transfer. A steady-state kinetics model indicates efficient collisional coupling within the Ar(4s) manifold.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Rawlins
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Galbally-Kinney
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hoskinson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Heaven