Strong amplified spontaneous emission and lasing from a narrow-gap RF-excited Ar-He-Xe gas mixture

The performance of a RF excited cw atomic xenon laser at wavelengths of 2.03 μm and 2.65 μm was studied theoretically and experimentally as a function of electrode distance. Results for inter-electrode distances from 2 to 0.25 mm are presented. A high pumping rate resulted in strong 40 mW cw amplified spontaneous emission at 2.65 μm wavelength from the configuration with the smallest distance of 0.25 mm between the electrodes. The maximum laser output of 2.7 W (0.24 W/cm³) was obtained with an active medium volume of 2×15×370 mm³ whereas the maximum specific output of 1.9 W/cm³ was received for an active medium volume of 0.25×2.25×370 mm³. A fluid model of the RF discharge was developed to analyze the laser behavior for different distances between the electrodes. Received: 30 November 1999 / Revised version: 21 April 2000 / Published online: 6 September 2000