Improvement in XeF laser efficiency at elevated temperatures

Abstract

Improvement in e‐beam‐pumped XeF laser efficiency is reported when the laser is operated at temperatures above 300 °K. The improvement is due predominantly to improved energy extraction from the upper laser level as well as decreased lower level lifetime. The highest intrinsic laser efficiency (laser energy out/e‐beam energy deposited in the active medium) observed at 3 amagats and 450 K is 5.5%. The temperature at which the highest efficiency is achieved is observed to increase with increasing gas density.