Relaxation of metastable copper atoms in a copper bromide vapor laser under regular pulse conditions

An experimental investigation was made of the relaxation of the populations of ²D_5/2 and ²D_3/2 metastable states of the copper atom in the interpulse period in the active medium of a copper bromide vapor laser under near-optimal lasing conditions. Measurements were resolved over the cross section of the discharge zone. The processes responsible for the observed decay of the metastable state populations were considered. An investigation was made of the influence of hydrogen on the lasing characteristics, the excitation power, and the decay of the metastablestate populations. The reasons for an increase in the output power of a copper bromide vapor laser with added hydrogen are discussed.