Measurement of the gain of an ultraviolet nitrogen laser

A description is given of a method for the determination of high values of the gain of laser media. The example of an ultraviolet nitrogen laser is used to show that the results obtained for gas-discharge active media can be used to determine the nature of the broadening and the width of the emission line, and the threshold and optimal radiation energy densities, to optimize the laser resonator parameters, and to identify the excitation mechanism and the relationship between the gas-discharge and output radiation characteristics of such a laser.