Quasi-Steady Laser Oscillation in the Recombining Hydrogen Plasma

Abstract

A quasi-steady laser oscillation at 1.88 µm has been observed in a pure hydrogen plasma. The high density plasma produced by a high power quasi-steady MPD arc-jet operating at 8.1 kA of the discharge current and 0.1 g/s of hydrogen flow is cooled by expanding itself into the vacuum chamber. Experimental results confirm that some population inversions occur as a consequence of recombination and subsequent electron thermalization.