Radio frequency and microwave excited planar inert gas mixture infrared lasers

Radiation characteristics of planar diffusion-cooled RF excited IR-lasers (Xe-He, Ar-He and Kr-He) created using the same design and excited by a large-aperture RF discharge (2.7×40×385 mm) at a frequency of 40.68 MHz in dependence on gas mixture composition and pressure have been studied. As a result of our experiments we were the first to produce a generation of a planar Ar-He and Kr-He lasers with the transverse cw RF discharge. Planar laser with the transverse cw RF discharge is shown as promising radiation source at a wavelength of 1.79-3.65 μm. The characteristics of the radiation of a planar Xe-laser excited by MW discharge with diffusive cooling of the active medium have been investigated. An average lasing power of 50 mW (pulse power 2.5 W) is obtained.