Abstract

High-efficiency short-wavelength KrF lasers have been developed for an inertial confinement fusion experiment.¹ The low-pressure (atmospheric pressure) operation of the KrF laser can override technical problems to establish a reliable large MORA system.’ We proposed low-pressure operation of the KrF laser and then found experimentally and theoretically that such a laser pumped at high excitation rates can operate efficiently.^2–4 The shorter-wavelength ArF laser is better than that of the KrF laser for efficient absorption of a fuel pellet. Therefore, the low-pressure ArF laser becomes interesting if it works efficiently with low-pressure mixtures pumped at high excitation rates.

© 1986 Optical Society of America