TIME VARIATION OF INTERNAL PLASMA PARAMETERS IN MICROWAVE-PULSE-EXCITED He-Kr** plus ION LASER.

The electron density and the electron temperature have been measured as functions of time in an early afterglow plasma in order to clarify the mechanism of a microwave-pulse-excited He-Kr** plus ion laser which oscillates in the afterglow. It is observed, after about 2 mu sec from the termination of the discharge, that the decay rate of the electron density decreases and the electron temperature becomes constant, because Kr atoms are ionized by He metastable atoms. The time variation of the He metastable atom density has been estimated, and it is shown that after about 2 mu sec the He metastable atom density monotonically decreases and has no peak.