Output characteristics and electron-HCl kinetics of a XeCl laser at very high current density

Abstract

Output characteristics of a XeCl laser at very high discharge current density (j=14 kA cm-2) were studied experimentally. At an estimated electron number density of about 1*1016 cm-3, electron quenching did not dominate over XeCl* (B or C) formation. The XeCl active medium exhibits very high gain characteristics at high current density. High power laser output was extracted from the active volume and a volatile dependence on HCl partial pressure was observed. The rapid build-up of gain was attributed to fast excimer formation resulting from increased number of densities of ionic precursors (Xe+ and Cl-). Electron-HCl kinetics processes that contribute to the enhancement of the formation of atomic ions were also discussed.