UV lasers on N2—SF6 and N2—NF3 mixtures pumped by transverse and longitudional discharges

Abstract

Lasers on the second positive nitrogen system (the C3Πu—B3Πg electronic band, λ=337.1 and 357.7 nm) are studied. Mixtures of nitrogen with electronegative gases (SF6 and NF3) are pumped by transverse and longitudinal discharges. The amplitude—time and spectral characteristics of a laser pumped from capacitive and inductive energy storage units are measured. The output energies of the laser pumped by a transverse discharge from a capacitive and inductive storage units are 17 and 18.4 mJ, respectively. It is shown that the mean output energy in N2—NF3 mixtures continues to increase at higher pulse repetition rates than in nitrogen. Under the pumping by a transverse discharge, two-peak 357.7-nm lasing with a total pulse duration of >40 ns is achieved. It is established that adding SF6 to the mixture enhances the output power of a longitudinal-discharge-pumped nitrogen laser.