Generation of diffraction-limited nanosecond and subnanosecond pulses in a XeCl laser

The generation of nanosecond and subnanosecond pulses in a XeCl laser is studied. The short radiation pulses are generated in a resonator with a SBS mirror. By focusing laser radiation inside and on the surface of a nonlinear medium, it is possible to generate pulses of duration 3 ns and 150 ps, respectively. The laser beams obtained in this way contain more than 70% of energy within the diffraction angle and have the signal-to-noise ration exceeding 10⁴.