Title :
Characterization of an ultrahigh peak power XeF(C→A) excimer laser system
Author :
Hofmann, Thomas ; Sharp, Tracy E. ; Dane, C. Brent ; Wisoff, Peter J. ; Wilson, William L., Jr. ; Tittel, Frank K. ; Szabò, Gabor
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Rice Univ., Houston, TX, USA
fDate :
5/1/1992 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The gain characteristics of an electron-beam pumped XeF(C→A) excimer amplifier operating in the blue-green spectral region were investigated for several laser pulse lengths. Saturation energy densities of 50 and 80 mJ/cm2 were measured for injected laser pulse durations of 250 fs and ~100 ps, respectively. A gain bandwidth of 60 nm was observed with ~100-ps pulse injection. Using an optimized unstable resonator design, the laser amplifier has produced 275-mJ pulses with a pulse duration of 250 fs and a 2.5 times diffraction-limited beam quality, making the XeF(C→A) amplifier the first compact laser system in the visible spectral region to reach peak powers at the terawatt level
Keywords :
electron beam applications; excimer lasers; xenon compounds; 250 fs; 275 mJ; blue-green spectral region; compact laser system; diffraction-limited beam quality; electron beam pumped XeF excimer amplifier; excimer laser system; gain bandwidth; gain characteristics; injected laser pulse durations; laser pulse lengths; optimized unstable resonator design; peak powers; pulse duration; saturation energy densities; Bandwidth; Density measurement; Energy measurement; Laser excitation; Optical pulses; Power amplifiers; Power lasers; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse measurements; Pump lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
