Critical electron density in a self-contained copper vapour laser in the restricted pulse repetition rate

One of the mechanisms of the inversion breaking in copper vapour lasers caused by a high prepulse electron density is considered. Inversion breaking occurs at a critical electron density N{sub ecr}. If the prepulse electron density exceeds N{sub ecr}, the electron temperature T{sub ecr} cannot reach, during a plasma heating pulse, the temperature of {approx}2eV required for lasing. A simple estimate of N{sub ecr} is made. (iv international conference on atom and molecular pulsed lasers (ampl'99))