Investigation of lasing in neon pumped by a self-sustained discharge preionized by ultraviolet radiation

An experimental investigation was made of lasing in neon at λ = 540.1 and 585.3 nm when this gas was pumped by a transverse discharge. At λ = 540.1 nm the duration of the laser pulses was 35 nsec. The addition of argon to an He–Ne–H₂ mixture pumped by a self-sustained discharge increased the duration of the output pulses at λ = 585.3 nm.