Atomic laser action in rare gas-SF6mixtures

Pulsed-laser action is described on a number of atomic transitions of ArI, one of which has not been reported previously. The addition of SF
6
to Ar shifts the laser action in the Ar from the
3d'(3/2)\min{1}\max{0} - 4p'(1/2)_{1}
transition to six ArI transitions originating from the three lowest states of the
3p^{5}3d
electron configuration. Significant enhancement of the intensity is observed over that resulting from a discharge in pure argon. In addition, when a small amount of SF
6
is added to a He discharge, laser oscillation results from FI at 0.7129 μm. Increased SF
6
pressure produces an unidentified oscillation at 2.639 μm. These last two transitions have been observed also in He-NF
3
, He-CF
4
, and He-PF
3
mixtures.