Gain measurements in th KrCl excimer laser

The single-pass/double-pass amplified spontaneous emission technique has been used to measure the net gain at 222.4 nm in a discharge-pumped UV-preionized KrCl laser. The net gain has been measured as a function of pump rate and total pressure in He- and Ne-based gas mixtures. A maximum net gain of 0.15 per cm has been obtained in a 0.09 pct HCl/10.1 pct He/88.3 pct Ne mixture at a total pressure of 355 kPa and at a specific power loading of about 21 MW/cc. The data presented are compared with previous net gain measurements performed using the passive absorption cell method.