Pulse broadening in a Ne–CuBr–Zn laser system by optical resonance pumping

Abstract

A Zn atom is employed as the light source for optical resonance pumping to a high lying energy level of the Cu atom, thereby depopulating both the Cu lower laser level and enhancing the upper laser level via cascading decays that is carried out simultaneously. The width of the lasing pulse broadened by 220% and the peak value increased by 180%. The cascading decay route was clarified by observing the fluorescence lines, λ=675.1, 793.5, and 809.0 nm, thereby specifying five levels of excitation loop.