HEAVY-ION BEAM PUMPED VISIBLE LASER

Heavy ion beam pumped laser action was observed in the visible spectra l range. This result is encouraging for the potential development of s horter wavelength lasers pumped by heavy ion beams. The laser operated on the 585.25-nm neon line in He-Ne-Ar, He-Ne-Kr, and He-Ne-Xe mixtur es. The laser gas pressure was, typically, 800 hPa and the mixing rati o 92% He, 6% Ne, and 2% Ar (Kr,Xe). Quasicontinuous laser action was o btained using a chopped beam of 120-MeV Cl-35 ions for pumping. Prelim inary spectroscopic studies of the laser medium show selective excitat ion of the 585.25-nm line.