Table-top Ar-N2 laser

Abstract

A compact Ar−N₂ excitation transfer laser pumped by a coaxial electron gun is demonstrated. This laser emits a 40‐ns, 300‐kW pulse at a nominal repetition rate of 1 HZ. With 45 J of energy delivered to the electron gun, 12 mJ of laser output at 3577 Å is obtained. A 2.8% laser efficiency is estimated from simple electron deposition calculations, and the over‐all electrical efficiency is estimated to be 0.03%. Because the stored energy needed in previously reported Ar−N₂ lasers has been reduced by more than an order of magnitude while maintaining a comparable laser energy output, this device represents a significant step forward in the study of high‐pressure electron‐beam‐pumped lasers.