Internal attenuation of laser radiation in the CuCl laser

Abstract

A double-pulsed neutral copper vapor laser, based on a Cu/CuCl discharge, was placed in tandem with a ZnCl 2 discharge cell in a common optical cavity. The ZnCl 2 in the separately heated discharge tube acted as a source of Cl-based plasma by- products which are also likely constituents of the Cu/CuCl laser plasma. The timing of the two discharges was varied relative to one another and the Cu laser emission at λ = 510 nm was monitored to test the optical absorption losses in the combined cavity in relation to time. The experiments provide some insight into the chemical effects in the laser plasma that may limit the energy output of a Cu/CuCl laser.