cw laser oscillation on transitions of Cd+ and Zn+ He–Cd halide and He–Zn halide discharges

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Abstract
Continuous‐wave laser oscillation has been obtained on transitions of Cd+ in hollow‐cathode He–CdI2, He–CdCl2, and He–CdBr2 discharges, and on transitions of Zn+ in hollow‐cathode He–ZnI2, He–ZnCl2, and He–ZnBr2 discharges. Excitation of upper laser levels is attributed to thermal energy charge transfer or Penning reactions between helium ions or neutral metastables and neutral metal atoms generated in the discharge volume by electron collisional dissociation of the metal‐halide molecules. The operating characteristics of each system are discussed and compared with those of hollow‐cathode He–Cd and He–Zn lasers. The results of these experiments suggest that operation of cw metal‐ion lasers at lower temperatures than are required for the elemental metal can be achieved by use of a volatile metal compound in place of the elemental metal.