Lasing on Metastable Neon Atoms with Pulsed Transverse Optical Pumping

Optically pumped metastable rare gas lasers (OPRGL) have been investigated. Lasing based on metastable neon (Ne*) atoms in a Ne–He mixture in a pulsed regime with transverse optical pumping was produced for the first time. Ne* was produced in the plasma of a nanosecond repetitively pulsed glow discharge with a frequency of 200 kHz. Pulsed optical pumping was provided by a dye laser at wavelengths corresponding to neon transitions of 1s₅ → 2p₉ (640.2 nm) and 1s₅ → 2p₈ (633.4 nm). The effect of various gain medium parameters on lasing characteristics was experimentally determined. Ne*–He OPRGL generation thresholds were measured by optical pump intensity of 1s₅ → 2p₉ and 1s₅ → 2p₈ transitions.