What is the active medium used in argon lasers?

The active medium in argon lasers is a gas, specifically argon gas. In this type of laser, electrical energy is applied to ionize the argon gas, creating a population of excited atoms that can emit light. When an argon atom in an excited state returns to a lower energy state, it releases a photon, which is the basic principle of how a laser produces light.

Argon lasers typically operate in the blue and green wavelengths of the spectrum, making them useful for various applications in medicine, industry, and research. The gaseous form of argon is crucial because it allows for efficient energy transfer and the production of coherent light, which characterizes laser emissions. Other forms of argon, such as liquid, solid, or plasma, do not serve as the active medium in this laser type and are therefore not applicable in this context.