COMPARISON OF CU-II 781 NM LASERS USING HIGH-VOLTAGE HOLLOW-CATHODE AND HOLLOW-ANODE-CATHODE DISCHARGES

Voltage-current characteristics and the Cu-II 780.8 nm laser performan ces are described for a novel segmented hollow cathode and for three- and four-slot hollow-anode cathode (HAC) tubes. Each of these operate at a higher voltage and with higher slope resistance than a convention al hollow cathode and produce improved laser performance. The best las er performance is obtained with the segmented tube. The application of a longitudinal magnetic field raises the discharge voltage and enhanc es the laser performance for the segmented tube and raises the voltage for the four-slot HAC tube. The magnetic field lowers the voltage and reduces the laser performance with the three-slot HAC tube. The volta ge effects are attributed to the deflection of the fast electrons by t he magnetic field and represent experimental evidence for the oscillat ion of electrons in a hollow-cathode discharge.