Laser action in carbon and nitrogen atoms following dissociative excitation transfer

Abstract

Selective excitation of carbon and nitrogen atoms has been achieved by collisions between metastable excited atoms of helium or neon with carbon monoxide or nitrogen molecules. Laser action has been observed at a number of wavelengths in the near infra-red after the passage of a brief pulse of current through the gas mixture. The laser action occurs in the afterglow following the current pulse and, in some cases, during the rise of the current pulse. These observations are explained in terms of the measured populations of the excited states involved, and a value is obtained for the cross section of the dissociation process.