New recombination lasers in Li, Al, Ca and Cu in a segmented plasma device employing foil electrodes

The use of foil electrodes in an expanding plasma recombination laser device has resulted in the generation of 30 laser transitions in Li I, Al I, Al II, Al III, Ca I, Ca II, Cu I, and Cu II. The generation of segmented arc plasmas in these metal vapors at the background gas pressures required for laser action had not previously been possible using bulk electrodes, and suggests that conditions necessary for recombination laser action may be obtained for any metal using this technique.