High-pressure infrared xenon laser with X-ray preionization |
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Authors: | Tucker J.E. Wexler B.L. Feldman B.J. McClelland T. |
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Affiliation: | US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC; |
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Abstract: | The first experimental results are presented of an X-ray preionized argon-buffered xenon laser. The X-rays are generated by a simple electron-beam device located below the 23-cm inner diameter laser chamber. The advantages of X-ray preionization for high-pressure discharge-pumped lasers include the long X-ray penetration depth, high preionization density, and spatial uniformity. The combination of X-ray preionization and techniques to eliminate surface flashover allows energetic operation in 4 atm of argon buffer for the first time in a photopreionized discharge laser. The argon-xenon mixtures lased primarily at 1.73 μm and 2.63 μm with a peak energy of 340 mJ at 4 atm, and a specific energy output of 0.85 J/liter |
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