Superlong pulses of laser oscillation on the 6 1P1-5 1D2 transition of the barium atom

A possibility of CW laser oscillation on atomic transitions between a resonance energy level and a metastable one under conditions when lower laser states are deactivated by electron impacts has been theoretically shown. We determined the plasma parameters so that CW laser action on such transitions of Cu, Au, Ca and Ba atoms may be possible. Superlong laser pulses of 6 μs duration were obtained on the 6 ¹P₁-5 ¹D₂ transition of the barium atom.