Abstract

Efficiency of KrF lasers significantly sensitive to absorption coefficient at lasing wavelength. However, the accuracy of the measurements of absorption coefficient is not always high enough for us to evaluate laser efficiency. We have carried out wide range gain measurements in order to determine the absorption coefficient with high accuracy. Until recently, it is widely accepted that absorption by triatomic rare gas halide Kr₂F mainly limits the energy extraction of KrF lasers. However, recent progress of gain measurements and kinetics study show that absorption by Kr₂F was significant small and the laser extraction was mainly limited by non-saturable absorption at lasing wavelength. Therefore, we are interested in the identification of main absorber and its absorption mechanises.

© 1988 Optical Society of America