Abstract

For combining the advantages of both gas and solid lasers, we chose a discharge-exciting XeF laser to be the amplifier of the third harmonic of an Nd³⁺ phosphate-glass laser (i.e., a P-glass laser). The third harmonic of a P-glass laser is very efficient and can offer a variable-pulse-width single-mode or smooth-pulse operation, and the XeF excimer laser has high-power high-energy potential. Thus a combined system has the potential of high power, variable pulse width, and single-mode operation.

© 1988 Optical Society of America