Cw recombination laser in a flowing negative glow plasma

Abstract

cw laser oscillation has been obtained in the 1.43-μm line of Cd I populated by electron-ion recombination in the flowing afterglow of a negative glow plasma. The metal vapor in there combining plasma is produced at room temperature by cathode sputtering. Negative glow plasmas having an electron energy distribution in which energetic beam electrons and supercooled secondary electrons coexist under steady-state conditions are shown to be an attractive medium for the excitation of cw recombination lasers.