10 J energy-level optically pumped XeF(C-A) laser with repetition mode.

An optically pumped XeF(C-A) laser with 0.1-1 Hz pulse-repetition mode is demonstrated. The maximum output energy is up to 18.7 J, which corresponds to the conversion efficiency of the stored electrical energy to laser output energy of 0.25%. The laser active medium is optically excited by vacuum-ultraviolet radiation of two single-channel surface discharges initiated along opposite walls of the laser cell. The laser resonator output coupling is 10%, and the initial XeF2 concentration in the active gas mixture is ~1 x 10(17) cm(-3). The duration of the observed laser pulses is 0.8 to 1.2 micros, and the spectral band is 470-500 nm.