Self-mode-locked unstable resonator copper vapor laser

We have studied a copper vapor laser equipped with unstable resonator optics and an intracavity beam splitter. The magnification of the present resonator configuration is as high as 60, and single transverse mode operation is practically supported in this system. We report on the laser output with near diffraction-limited beam divergence and a new observation of self-mode-locking behavior in the output pulses.