Gain of a long-pulse KrCl excimer laser

The net gain is measured for various pump power densities in a discharge-pumped long-pulse KrCl laser (222 nm). For this, a three-electrode laser system is employed, which is operated at high gas pressures of around 3.5 bar with pump power densities of 300−650 kW cm−3. The net gain reaches a maximum of 1.6% cm−1. Using the experimental results, values are calculated for the small-signal gain, the losses, and the saturation intensity. The losses and the saturation intensity are found to increase much stronger with the excitation rate than the small-signal gain. Fluorescence measurements at 222 nm show that the upper laser level depopulates faster when the power density increases. The influence of collisional quenching and the halogen consumption on the laser performance are discussed.