Mercury bromide discharge life studies

This report summarizes research work performed at the Westinghouse R/D Center under ONR Contract No. N00014-81-C-0485 for the period between May 1, 1981 and January 31, 1982. The major effort was to perform experimental lifetime studies of the HgBr laser system, and to verify noble metal electrodes for long life operation in HgBr laser discharges. In this report, the results of experimental life tests of gold and platinum electrodes for HgBr lasers are presented. The life expectancy of such electrodes is over 10 to the 8th power shots or 300 hours at 100 pulses per second. The possibility of extending its life to 10 to the 10th power shots is discussed.