ENHANCED PERFORMANCE OF ELEMENTAL COPPER-VAPOR LASERS BY USE OF H-2-HCL-NE BUFFER-GAS MIXTURES

The output power from a 25-mm-diameter (volume, 0.49 L) and a 40-mm-di ameter (volume, 1.9 L) copper-vapor laser (nominally 20- and 65-W devi ces, respectively) was approximately doubled to >50 and >100 W, respec tively, by addition of small partial pressures of both H-2 and HCl to the neon buffer gas. The specific output powers of these lasers: are b elieved to he records for any copper-vapor lasers of this size. (C) 19 98 Optical Society of America.