Influence of losses in flashlamps on the maximum efficiency of neodymium glass lasers

The energy losses in walls of various xenon flashlamps were determined in the range of low power densities (20–200 kW/cm³) of pump pulses. The relative losses increased on reduction in the pump power density, indicating that they were of nonradiative nature. The results obtained were used to refine calculation models of lasers and amplifiers with tubular active elements and axially symmetric pump systems. Allowance for these losses ensured a good qualitative agreement (and a quantitative agreement much better than hitherto) between the calculations and experiments.