MECHANISM OF THE OPERATION OF AN RF-PUMPED CW XE LASER

Formation of specific structures of the radiation field of an rf-pumpe d cw Ar-He-Xe laser was observed experimentally, A model of the active medium was developed taking account of the spatial inhomogeneity of t he gas-discharge parameters. It was found that under the conditions of a high input energy and gas heating the inhomogeneity of the refracti ve index led to the formation of optical field configurations differin g significantly from the known hollow-waveguide modes. The effective m echanism of the recombination of electrons with molecular ArXe+ and Xe -2(+) ions in the regions near the walls with an enhanced electric fie ld intensity, together with displacement of the field to the periphery of the active region, ensured conditions favouring energy extraction in such a laser.