Compact, Self-Contained ArF Lasers

Abstract

Key development issues associated with compact argon fluoride waveguide lasers have been investigated in a Phase I SBIR study. Average laser power of 4 milliwatts and pulse energy of 16 microjoules have been produced. Feasibility of a compact gas supply suitable for steady-state operation of the laser at very low gas flow rates has been demonstrated. Formation of dioxygen fluoride radicals in the laser gas mixture following excitation has been observed, and optical absorption by these species has been found to limit laser energy at high pulse repetition rates. Oxygen sources in the laser gas supply have been investigated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 20, 1992
Accession Number
ADA247403

Entities

People

  • C. P. Christensen

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Discharge Tubes
  • Excitation
  • Flow
  • Flow Rate
  • Fluoride Glass
  • Fluorides
  • Gas Flow
  • Gases
  • Laser Gases
  • Lasers
  • Light Sources
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Repetition Rate
  • Spectra
  • Steady State

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers