Amplification Property of an Electron-Beam Pumped KrF Laser

Amplification property of an electron-beam pumped KrF laser at the pumping power of 3.5 MW/cm³ has been measured. Waveform of the amplified laser pulse has been analyzed and small signal gain coefficient and saturation intensity have thus been determined. It is confirmed that the production rate of the upper laser state follows very closely the time dependence of the energy deposition rate of the electron-beam in the laser gas and the quantum production efficiency is almost 100%. We find discrepancy between the measured saturation intensity and the calculated value based on the known kinetic constants and the simple two level laser model.