Gain and absorption measurements of electron beam pumped, high Kr concentration KrF gas mixtures

Abstract

Gain and out-of-band absorption measurements are made of electron beam pumped KrF laser mixtures (Ar diluent) with 4–99.6% Kr concentrations. The average pump rate is maintained at ≊120 kW/cm3 by adjusting the total pressure of the mixtures to compensate for the different electron stopping powers of Ar and Kr. The F2 number density is also kept constant at 8.9×1016 cm−3. Measured small-signal gains (g0−α) are 3.8%/cm at 4% Kr, 3.3%/cm at 50% Kr, and 3.2%/cm at 99.6% Kr. The out-of-band absorptions (261 nm) are 0.43%/cm at 4% Kr, 0.74%/cm at 50% Kr, and 0.87%/cm at 99.6% Kr. Our computer model agrees with the results and predicts in-band absorptions (248 nm) of 0.29%/cm at 4% Kr, 0.44%/cm at 50% Kr, and 0.52%/cm at 99.6% Kr.