High-power λ = 222 nm lasing of an Ne(He)–Kr–HCl gas mixture pumped with a self-sustained discharge

Experimental studies were made of lasing in Ne(He)–Kr–HCl mixtures pumped by an ultraviolet-preionized transverse discharge. High-power λ = 222 nm radiation was obtained with an efficiency of ~ 0.5%, in terms of the energy stored in a capacitive storage system, with laser active lengths of 20 and 60 cm. The main mechanism of formation of KrCl* molecules was ion–ion recombination and high output energies were achieved in mixtures with a neon buffer gas using high-intensity preionization and pump powers higher than 1.5 MW/cm³.