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.

A coaxial e-beam excitation system for high power excimer lasers

“…Until now coaxial e-beam excitation devices were developed primarily for relatively small laser systems in which a high current density was required [3][4][5]. In these systems electron deflection due to the magnetic field of the return current could be kept on such a level that beam homogeneity was acceptable.…”

Density of atoms in Ar*(3p54s) states and gas temperatures in an argon surfatron plasma measured by tunable laser spectroscopy

“…The design of remote plasma applications is usually based on this trend. The efflux of Ar(4 s) from the plasma can be used for excimer formation 1 or to generate active species for various applications, [2][3][4] e.g., by excitation transfer to N 2 5 or by Penning ionization. 6 The argon 4 s group is an important step in the ionization mechanism when direct ionization is too slow.…”

Model Calculations of Negative Differential Conductivity in Gases

“…The role of NDC in gas discharge physics has been stressed by Lopantseva et ala (1979) (see also Petrushevich and Starostin 1981), who made both experimental and theoretical studies of instabilities in externally sustained discharges in Ar-N z and Ar-CO mixtures and in pure Ar. Investigations of the phenomenon are particularly important in relation to the operation of Ar-N, lasers (Searles 1974;Ault et ala 1974;Ault 1975;Bychkov et ale 1980), CO lasers (Willett 1974;Garscadden 1981) and diffuse discharge switches (Christophorou et ala 1982;Schoenbach et ale 1982), and to the detection of nuclear radiation (Mathieson and El-Hakeem 1979;Al-Dargazelli et ala 1981).…”