Parameterization studies of discharge excited HgBr laser system

Recently, mercury bromide has shown promise as a high efficiency, high energy blue-green pulsed laser. A HgBr laser system has been designed which make it possible to systematically parameterize the HgBr laser to determine optimal HgBr2 density, temperature, buffer gas mixtures and pressures to greater than 10 atmospheres. Laser output and fluorescence was measured for various nitrogen pressures up to 300 torr for neon buffer gas densities from 1.3 to 5 Amagat for a constant HgBr2 density of about 10 to the 17th molecules/cu cm. The laser output and fluorescence peaked at a nitrogen pressure of 150 torr and increased with neon buffer gas density to the maximum density tested of 5 Amagat.