High power mid infrared operation of the atomic xenon laser

We report high power cw operation of a slab waveguide atomic xenon laser in a spectral region of low atmospheric absorption. Using transverse radio frequency discharge excitation at 49 MHz and a hybrid waveguide-unstable resonator, with a sharp band edge on the reflectivity versus wavelength curve of the laser mirrors, 50 mW was obtained on the 3.869 µm transition and 210 mW on the 3.895 µm line. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.