Hollow-cathode transverse discharge He−Ne and He−Cd+ lasers

An all-metal hollow-cathode laser tube consisting of a perforated cylindrical cathode surrounded by a coaxial cylindrical anode has been operated as a He?Ne laser at 0.6328, 1.15 and 3.39 μm, and as a He?Cd laser at red, green and blue visible wavelengths, using both de and pulsed-plus-dc excitation. Laser oscillation in He?Zn, Ne?Cd, Xe?Cd and Ar?Cd mixtures has also been obtained. The hollow-cathode discharge consists primarily of an intense cathode glow inside the cathode cylinder, giving a quiet, stable, low-voltage, positive-resistance discharge. Results for the He?Ne and He?Cd laser output versus partial and total pressures and discharge currents are presented. The unoptimized laser performance for the He?Ne case approaches but does not yet equal the conventional positive-column case, while the He?Cd performance for the charge-transfer-pumped green 5378Å line appears particularly promising.