9C10 - Laser operation with liquid semiconductor mirrors

-switched laser operation has been observed using a liquid selenium mirror as one of the reflectors in a ruby laser. Detailed measurements of the changes in reflectivity of liquid selenium under ruby laser giant pulse excitation were obtained using a pulsed argon ion laser to monitor the reflectivity variations. With liquid selenium, an initial decrease in reflectivity was observed which was followed by oscillations. The initial decrease was attributed to deformation of the liquid surface by heating. The -switched behavior is attributed to the periodic deformation and heating of the liquid selenium mirror.