Metal vapour lasers: a review of recent progress

A brief review of metal vapour lasers is presented with an emphasis on the recent progress made in advancing metal vapour laser technology and applications. It is anticipated that new types of metal vapour lasers will be developed which take advantage of recently observed behaviours of high pressure copper vapour lasers. For example, collisional excitation energy transfer may make it possible to develop efficient single wavelength copper vapour lasers at high pressures. Also, use of new discharge schemes such as high power microwave discharges may significantly advance the metal vapour laser technology. A variety of new applications should also be realized in the years to come.Supported in part by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation.