Investigation of the transverse separation of metal vapors in cataphoretic lasers

A calculation is reported of the transverse distributions of atoms and ions in an active substance in a discharge. Allowance is made for the ionization of the buffer gas. Measurements are reported of the radial profile of the spontaneous 441.6 nm line of Cd II emitted from an He–Cd laser. A dip of the intensity is found on the axis and it is attributed to a transverse separation of the vapors in the discharge.