Abstract

Overall HgBr laser efficiencies of ~1% have been achieved in small volume UV preionized discharges of Ne/N₂/HgBr₂ mixtures with single-pulse energies in the 50-100-mJ range.¹ Scaling to larger apertures and pulse energies may be difficult because of strong UV absorption by the HgBr₂ reagent. Recently, x rays have been utilized as a means to preionize large-volume rare gas halide discharge lasers.^2,3

© 1981 Optical Society of America