Modelling of the intracavity optical fields in a copper vapour laser

A computer model is used to simulate the spatio-temporal behaviour of the optical gain and intracavity laser fields at 510.6 and 578.2 nm in a copper vapour laser oscillator. The model is based on a detailed rate-equation analysis of CVL discharge kinetics, and takes into account the hyperfine structure of the laser lineshape functions and the divergence losses for the intracavity photon flux. Factors contributing to the formation of the output beam are discussed in detail and the theoretical results are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data.