High-pressure ultraviolet-emitting KrF laser

Electron-beam pumping of Ar–Kr–F₂ and Ar–Kr–NF₃ mixtures produced stimulated emission at the wavelength of 248.6 nm. An investigation was made of spectral, energy, and time characteristics of the spontaneous and stimulated radiation as a function of the composition of the mixtures at pressures of 0–10 atm. The efficiency of conversion of the electron-beam energy into the energy of spontaneous radiation at the 248.6 nm wavelength was ~ 15% for the optimal composition Ar:Kr:F₂ = 1000:10:1.