Spectroscopic Studies of the Ar+ Laser

Abstract

The spontaneous intensities of all the laser transitions as well as the important cascade transitions into the upper laser states of a typical cw Ar⁺ laser have been measured. In addition, we give here the calculated Einstein A coefficients and the radiative lifetimes of all the upper states of all these Ar⁺ transitions. From these results, we have also obtained the population densities and the various pumping rates of all the laser states and those states which contribute significantly to the upper laser states through cascade transitions. On the basis of these and other related data, a number of conclusions on the physical processes taking place in the Ar⁺ discharge can be reached. Furthermore, some of the previous suggestions and speculations on these processes can now be evaluated on a more quantitative basis; some of these are discussed here.