1 W operation of singly ionized silver and copper lasers

We report a multiline output power of 1 W from the 800.4, 825.5, and 840.4 nm Ag II transitions and 350 mW from the 408.6 nm Ag II transition resulting from pulsed operation of a silver hollow cathode laser. Continuous output of 1 W was obtained in a copper hollow cathode from the 780.8 nm Cu II transition. Design considerations for continuous high-power operation of the hollow cathode discharge are also discussed.