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Lol I've done that too. Then I'm like jk don't. Nothing like 10KV to punch you in the stomach first thing in the morning... 
And the reason HeNes have low gain is because they are a gas, but furthermore, they're low density gasses. Low density medium=less atoms excited=less photons being radiated
That's why you see massive power output from diodes and YAG lasers, despite the medium being small (Nd:YAG), or even microscopic (diodes). Because you are lasing a solid instead. That's why powerful gas lasers are so long, it's the only way to get more matter between the mirrors. (Ignoring a couple small factors)
Also plasma as stated above, makes them more unique. Also, gas is typically superior in beam quality to most diode systems inherently, and HeNes are better for holograms because of their long coherence length. The real catch is that you can interact with the medium in the cavity though. If you have a brewster you can admire tens if watts of intracavity power. The beam making it out of the cavity is usually only about 1-1.5% of its total generation.
And the reason HeNes have low gain is because they are a gas, but furthermore, they're low density gasses. Low density medium=less atoms excited=less photons being radiated
That's why you see massive power output from diodes and YAG lasers, despite the medium being small (Nd:YAG), or even microscopic (diodes). Because you are lasing a solid instead. That's why powerful gas lasers are so long, it's the only way to get more matter between the mirrors. (Ignoring a couple small factors)
Also plasma as stated above, makes them more unique. Also, gas is typically superior in beam quality to most diode systems inherently, and HeNes are better for holograms because of their long coherence length. The real catch is that you can interact with the medium in the cavity though. If you have a brewster you can admire tens if watts of intracavity power. The beam making it out of the cavity is usually only about 1-1.5% of its total generation.
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