Multijoule performance of the photolytically pumped XeF/C-A/ laser
Abstract
A description is given of the way in which the photolytic pumping scheme begins. The VUV radiation is transmitted through an array of CaF2 windows into the laser cell, where it photodissociates XeF2 to produce primarily XeF(B-1/2). Collisions with N2 buffer gas relax the excited states to XeF(C-3/2); this lases on a transition centered at 481 nm and continuously tunable over more than + or - 35 nm. Typical values of the experimental parameters are given. The 420 kV, 1-m e-beam source delivers an average current of 10 A/sq cm over an aperture 14 x 100 cm for pulse lengths up to 1 microsec. The total e-beam energy available is 3.5 kJ, of which 2.4 kJ is deposited in the xenon. The total VUV energy radiated is 720 J, of which 115 J is coupled into the laser cell. It is thought that optimized designs should achieve better than 1% efficiency.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
- Pub Date:
- February 1982
- DOI:
- 10.1109/JQE.1982.1071517
- Bibcode:
- 1982IJQE...18..176E
- Keywords:
-
- Far Ultraviolet Radiation;
- Laser Outputs;
- Optical Pumping;
- Performance Tests;
- Photolysis;
- Xenon Fluoride Lasers;
- Calcium Fluorides;
- Electron Beams;
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Fluorescence;
- Quantum Efficiency;
- Tunable Lasers;
- Lasers and Masers