Measurement of the lifetimes of the lower active levels of a copper vapor laser

Abstract

Resonant absorption of radiation due to the 2D3/2→2P01/2 and 2D5/2→2P03/2 transitions in the copper atom was used to measure the lifetimes τ of the 2D3/2 and 2D5/2 states, which are the lower active levels of a copper vapor laser. It is found that at temperatures and pressures of the active medium typical of a copper vapor laser the lifetime is τ ∼10−6 sec and decreases as the power deposited in the discharge increases. Possible mechanisms for decay of the states under study are discussed.