Abstract

The most important problem encountered in the design of the blue-green optically pumped XeF (C→A) laser is the development of a reliable light source with maximum energy emission at wavelengths between 150 and 160 nm, a geometrical length of ~1 m, and permitting operation in pulse-repetitive mode. A linear formed ferrite plasma source fulfilling these requirements has been developed and tested. To excite the high-brightness light source we used an 800-mm-long ferrite rod, assembled from 1.7 × 4 × 140-mm-long ferrite strips placed end to end, to guide the high-current surface discharge. The ferrite rod was placed near the wall of the 50-mm diameter laser tube, which was made of teflon. The conductive path on the surface of each ferrite strip was prepared by a method, described in Ref. ¹. To prevent broadening of the conductive filament due to the discharge plasma, we embedded the ferrite strips in alumina.

© 1994 IEEE