Stimulated emission in aluminum laser-induced plasma: kinetic model of population inversion.

The stimulated emission (SE) in aluminum laser-induced plasma pumped in resonance with the 3s²3p-3s²4s aluminum transition at 266.04 nm is modeled. A collisional-radiative plasma model based on kinetic equations is proposed to explain the creation of the population inversion and lasing. The model predicts fast depopulation of the ground 3s²3p state by the absorption of resonant laser light at 266 nm and very fast population of the excited 3s²4s state by the cascade transitions from the laser-pumped level, which is driven optically and by collisions. The SE of the 3s²3p-3s²4s transition at 396.15 nm is studied and possible SE at 1.3 and 2.1 μm is predicted. It is confirmed by calculations that the population inversion between the 3s²3p and 3s²4s states can be created by weak pumping at several microjoule-millijoule pulse energies and results in high gain.