Gain and lasing in nuclear excited excimer laser systems

A He:Xe nuclear pumped flashlamp laser system based on a burst reactor neutron source has been constructed. The optical output of the flashlamp exceeds 500 joules from 170 nm xe2 fluorescence and 200 joules from Xe and the Xe continuum in the visible. The XeF2 photolysis XeF (C-A) laser system (483 nm) studied did not lase as expected. Gain (2 % meter) was observed at a lower level than expected. An alternate laser output at 370 nm from S is suspected. The concept of 'parasitic amplification' was developed to explain the discrepancy between calculated gain and lasing and the observed results. Alternate nuclear flashlamp laser concepts and direct nuclear pumped laser systems are reviewed.