Measurements of Electron Impact Excitation Cross Sections of Laser States of Argon(II)

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Abstract
Cross sections for the excitation of the upper laser levels 4p2D5/2, 2D3/2, 2P3/2, and 2S1/2 of Ar (II) by electron impact with ground‐state neutral atoms have been found by measuring the incoherent light produced by a triode‐type structure filled with argon to pressures near 0.1 torr. Peak values in the vicinity of 5×10−19 cm2 are found. By operating the same structure in an argon‐ion laser cavity, an increase in coherent output is measured. The amount of the increase in output may be used in conjunction with the measured upper‐state cross section to estimate the cross section for electron excitation of the lower laser levels.