Abstract

One of the key factors for output power of a Copper Vapor Laser (CVL) and its spatial uniformity is a density of the lower level of the laser transition. A repetition rate of the laser is also limited by the relaxation time of the low level. The thermal population is directly related to the reduction of the output at a high temperature. To understand these effects, temporal and spatial profiles of the densities were directly measured and temperature dependence of output power was examined for Cu as well as Au vapor laser (AVL).

© 1988 Optical Society of America