Characteristics of the HCN Laser Radiation at High-Excitation Currents

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Abstract
The HCN gas laser using short (1 μsec) high‐current (15 kA) pulsed excitation emits its 337‐μm radiation in pulses approximately 50 μsec long and 90 μsec apart that last for almost 500 μsec; the output is similar, in many respects, to the spiking observed in solid‐state lasers. The pulsed nature of the output is due to radial acoustic oscillations, produced in the gas by the high current, which modulate the electron density in the cavity. The output depends critically on the distribution of gas in the cavity and is a maximum when the density on the axis is a minimum. The mechanism by which the density change influences the output has not been definitely established. It appears, however, that the gradient in the index of refraction which is produced by the oscillations and is in the correct direction to defocus the cavity at the time of minimum output is the most likely source of the pulses.

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