Discharge studies of the Ne-Cu laser

Spontaneous-emission and absorption studies of the Ne-Cu hollow-cathode laser are summarized. The major discharge processes operative in the Ne-Cu laser are outlined and the qualitative aspects of a proposed model of the Ne-Cu laser are discussed. Emphasis is placed on cathode sputtering as a source of copper atoms, and we demonstrate that copper densities of 1014 atoms/cm3 are created via discharge sputtering.