Investigation of lasing in active media utilizing transitions in manganese atoms

A study was made of the energy characteristics and spectral composition of the radiation emitted by selfheating manganese vapor lasers as a function of their active-medium parameters and excitation conditions in discharge tubes of various diameters. The dependences obtained were used as a basis for discussing the lasing mechanism. The relationship was considered between the elementary processes occurring in the pulsed plasma discharge and the parameters of the emitted radiation. A total laser output power of 12 W, at an efficiency of 0.3%, was obtained in a 2-cm diameter tube of 200 cm³ volume.