A repetitively pulsed HF laser with a large discharge gap operating on the F2–H2 mixture

An efficient repetitively pulsed (RP) HF laser pumped by a barrier electric discharge with a 10-cm discharge gap is developed. A specific output energy E/V = 3 and 23 J L^-1 and a technical efficiency η equal to 3.4% and 26%, respectively, were obtained in the single-pulse regime for non-chain and chain processes. An average output power of 43 W (E/V~10 J L^-1 and η = 11.3%) was obtained in the RP mode of the laser with a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz for a depleted fluorine–hydrogen mixture (20% F₂, 5% H₂). Numerical simulation of laser operation under the conditions corresponding to the RP regime for an active medium length of about 0.5 m showed that a specific output energy of 15 J L^-1 and a technical efficiency right up to 20% can be attained in a single pulse. A specific output energy ~14 J L^-1 attained under such conditions in the single-pulse mode for an active medium length of 0.37 m is found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values.