Amplification Characteristics of a Discharge Excited F₂ Laser

Abstract

The small signal gain coefficient and the saturation intensity of a molecular-fluorine pulsed-discharge laser at 157 nm have been measured using two discharge devices in the oscillator-amplifier configuration. At 3 atm total gas pressure and 1·5 cm electrode spacing the small signal gain coefficient and the saturation intensity of the ³Π_2g → ³ΠI_2u transition were measured to be 5·2% cm⁻¹ and 5 MW cm⁻² respectively.