Investigation of the characteristics of negative images in optical copper vapor systems with image amplifiers

An experimental study was made of the conditions for the appearance of negative images, formed using the green (510.5 nm) and yellow (578.2 nm) lines of the copper atom, in a laser projection microscope and in an oscillator–amplifier system. The energy and spatial characteristics of the negative images were investigated. It was found that quite sharp negative images were obtained when the plane of an intermediate image was located within the active medium. A rise in the intensity of the light beams carrying negative images was discovered on introduction of a diffuse scatterer into the system.