Abstract

The optical pulse shape and output energy of a 1.73 µm Ar-Xe laser pumped by an electron-beam-controlled discharge have been measured. A 200-keV electron beam deposited ~110W/cm³ in a 43 × 7.3 × 4.35 cm³ volume (Fig. 1), The discharge was driven by a lumped-element transmission line, matched to the 0.2-Ω impedance of the discharge. Rectangular discharge pump pulses with durations of 25, 50, or 100 µs resulted in stable discharge operations. The maximum sustainable electric field in the discharge was 120 V cm^-1 atm^-1. At 17 psi absolute, this electric field resulted in a current of 2200 A. The discharge impedance decreased with decreasing Xe concentration but was higher in pure argon. The local current density in the optically active region was measured using a current button—an insulated metal plug inserted into the anode. The ratio of the current through the button to the total discharge current was within 6% of the ratio of button area to the area of the full anode, The laser cavity had 43-cm gain length and consisted of a 2-m concave mirror and a flat partial reflector with a 94% reflectivity.

© 1992 Optical Society of America