cw recombination laser action in a cadmium vapor arc

Abstract
Continuous-wave laser oscillation at 1.40, 1.43, 1.45, and 1.64 μm has been achieved in a recombining plasma produced by a Cd vapor arc in the presence of low-pressure rapidly flowing He gas. The variation of gain with distance from the arc, calculated using a simple recombination model, is in close agreement with experiment. The experimental techniques used in this work should be applicable to the development of cw lasers in other metal vapor arcs.