Abstract:
An experimental investigation was made of the energy and threshold characteristics of an He–Ar laser (λ = 1149 nm) emitting radiation from the 4p[1/2]1–4s' [1/2]10 transitioninthe argon atom. The maximum laser output power of 250 W, with an efficiency of ~ 0.1%, was obtained for an He:Ar = 250:1 mixture at a pressure of 2 atm. An analysis of the results showed that the 4s' [1/2]10 lower active level was deactivated due to collisional quenching by the helium atoms.