Density measurements of excited components in a longitudinal discharge excimer laser

Time-dependent particle number densities of the excited components (Xe^+*, He^*) in a longitudinal-discharge XeCl excimer laser have been measured by laser absorption probing with a CW dye laser. The densities are compared with those in transversal-discharge XeCl excimer lasers. The formation dynamics of the XeCl excimer molecules, excited atoms, and excited ions are discussed. The dependence of the particle number densities of the Xe^+* ions on the buffer gas pressure, the Xe gas pressure, and the HCl gas pressure is investigated