The optically pumped mercury vapor laser

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Abstract
We present the results of an investigation into the optically pumped cw mercury vapor laser at 546.1 nm. A steady‐state rate‐equation analysis is used to describe the variation of laser gain and output power as a function of nitrogen pressure and other parameters and to describe the effects of isotopic mixing in Hg lasers containing multiple Hg isotopes. A qualitative treatment of the effects of tube diameter, pumping rates, and Hg density is also presented. A number of experiments showing the variation of laser gain and output power as a function of nitrogen pressure are also described and compared with the theory. Using indirect techniques, the quenching rate across the 546.1‐nm transition in nitrogen is measured to be 7×105 sec−1 Torr−1±50%, and the pressure broadening on this line is inferred to be ∼26 MHz/Torr±30%. The effects of tube diameter, pumping rates, and Hg density are also presented.