HIGH SPECIFIC OUTPUT ENERGY OPERATION OF A VACUUM ULTRAVIOLET MOLECULAR FLUORINE LASER-EXCITED AT 66-MW/CM3 BY AN ELECTRIC-DISCHARGE

An output laser energy of 83 mJ, which corresponds to a specific output energy of 2.9 J/l, was obtained by exciting a 10 atm He/F2 gas mixture by an extremely intense electric discharge at a peak excitation rate of 66 MW/cm3. A fast rise of the voltage between the discharge electrodes prior to the discharge induction increases the breakdown voltage and, at the same time, improves the discharge stability resulting in an increase of the laser output and intrinsic efficiency.