Pressure Dependence of the Small-Signal Gain and Saturation Intensity of a Copper Bromide Laser

Abstract

A pair of copper bromide lasers in an oscillator–amplifier configuration is used to investigate the small signal gain and saturation intensity as amplifying parameters and output power of lasers, versus pressure of buffer gas. It is shown that the amplifying parameters and laser output power have a maximum value at optimum buffer gas pressure of 11 Torr. The challenge between microscopic parameters such as stimulated emission cross section, laser upper level lifetime, and population inversion, which determine the values of laser characteristics respective to the operational pressure of buffer gas, are investigated. Thus an optimum delay time of about 10 ns is determined, and a maximum output power equivalent to about 12 W is extracted. The amplifying parameters and measured output power of laser versus delay times show some local maxima and minima at the delay time interval of 6–43 ns.