Performance and design of an atmospheric-pressure, corona-preionized pulsed HF laser is presented. The preionization was achieved by means of a "plasma cathode". Two types of lasers were investigated: A short laser with effective screen area of 50 x 7 mm2, and a long laser with an effective screen area of 100 x 7 mm2. A grounded flat aluminum anode with rounded edges was placed 7 mm from the screen electrode in the short laser and at various gaps (5.8-8.3 mm) in the long laser, thus forming effective discharge volumes of 2.45 cm3 and 3.6 - 5.2 cm3, respectively. The SF6:H2:He gas ratios employed were: 7:2:91 and 5:2:93. Output pulses of up to 40 mJ energy were achieved. Electrical efficiencies up to 2.5% were obtained at about 8 mJ per cm3. The influence of the gas pressure, air contamination, the capacitor ratio and output coupling reflectivity on the laser performance was measured.

Date Published: 1 February 1991
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 1397, 8th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers, (1 February 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.25991

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1397:
8th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers
Concepcion Maroto Domingo; Jose M. Orza, Editor(s)