Abstract

The radial gain and refractive properties of an HCN amplifier using high current, short pulse excitation have been measured at 337 μm. The amplifier exhibits gain only after the electrons, which are produced at the wall, reach the amplifier axis, thus accounting for the delay normally observed between excitation and laser emission. Strong electron refractive effects, due to radial density gradients, are present that are associated with the gain and dynamics of the discharge. Weak magnetic fields can enhance or modulate the laser output. Strong fields, however, produce a current instability that destroys the symmetry of the gain profile and reduces the laser output.

© 1977 Optical Society of America

Electron Density Measurement in the HCN Laser Using Faraday Mode Splitting Technique

R. Turner
Appl. Opt. 13(4) 968-973 (1974)

Multichannel HCN interferometer for electron density profile measurements of tokamak plasmas

D. Véron, J. Certain, and J. P. Crenn
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(7) 964-967 (1977)

High Power Pulsed HCN Laser

L. E. Sharp and A. T. Wetherell
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Power scaling laws for cw HCN conventional Fabry-Perot lasers and comparison with cw HCN waveguide lasers

P. Belland and J. P. Crenn
Appl. Opt. 18(10) 1513-1517 (1979)

Scaling laws for cw 337-μm HCN waveguide lasers

P. Belland, D. Véron, and L. B. Whitbourn
Appl. Opt. 15(12) 3047-3053 (1976)