High energy extraction from UV pre-ionized molecular fluorine lasers is hampered by the short period of discharge stability and the spatial inhomogeneity of the discharge. So far stable discharge operation is reported for small discharge cross sections with an area less than 0.8 cm² and efficiencies in the order of 0.15%. To increase the energy extraction of the molecular fluorine laser the discharge cross section should be enlarged. Here we report on the successful operation of a molecular fluorine laser with a large discharge cross section of 1.5 multiplied by 2.4 cm² (electrode spacing times discharge width) which operates at a high intrinsic efficiency of 0.45%. Crucial for obtaining this result is the development of a short pulse, high intensity x-ray preionization source.

Date Published: 4 April 1997
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 3092, XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference, (4 April 1997); doi: 10.1117/12.270263

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3092:
XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference
Denis R. Hall; Howard J. Baker, Editor(s)