High pulse rate frequency (PRF) long-pulse x-ray preionized spiker-sustainer XeCl laser

N. Bernard; Th. Hofmann; Bernard L. Fontaine; Bernard M. Forestier; Philippe Ch. Delaporte; Marc L. Sentis; I. Tassy

doi:10.1117/12.204950

31 March 1995 High pulse rate frequency (PRF) long-pulse x-ray preionized spiker-sustainer XeCl laser

N. Bernard, Th. Hofmann, Bernard L. Fontaine, Bernard M. Forestier, Philippe Ch. Delaporte, Marc L. Sentis, I. Tassy

Proceedings Volume 2502, Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.204950
Event: Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium, 1994, Friedrichshafen, Germany

Abstract

A parametric study of long pulse XeCl laser is undertaken at IMFM in the frame of EUREKA EU 205 program, with the aim to optimize such lasers in terms of efficiency and laser average power at high PRF. These developments have important issues in applications. In particular there is a need for short wavelength, high energy lasers with long pulse duration, in order to overcome the limitations of present laser sources for transmission through optical fiber, namely fiber input surface degradation and two photons absorption which are optical power dependent. An X-ray preionized spiker-sustainer XeCl excimer laser operating at high repetition frequency (1000 Hz) and 220 W of average power with 2.4% efficiency is demonstrated with use of LUX Test-Bed. Pulse energy and pulse duration (160 ns) are virtually independent of pulse rate frequency. Comparison with CLC circuit XeCl laser excitation for the same operating conditions shows superior properties of spiker-sustainer excitation for high frequency operation due to higher efficiency and discharge homogeneity and stability. As an example with CLC circuit excitation laser average power saturate at 400 Hz without acoustic dampers and at 800 Hz with use of dampers while with spiker-sustainer circuit no saturation is observed up to 1200 Hz (limited by available electrical power) without use of acoustic dampers. Experimental results on laser behavior at high PRF are presented as well as a study of acoustics perturbation induced by the discharge inside LUX by means of fast pressure piezoelectric probes. Pressure probes signals show a reduction by a factor 2.5 of pressure waves amplitude in the immediate vicinity of laser cavity with spiker-sustainer circuit as compared to CLC circuit. This strong decrease is attributed mostly to the higher discharge stability and also to the higher efficiency obtained with spiker-sustainer circuit.

Citation Download Citation

N. Bernard, Th. Hofmann, Bernard L. Fontaine, Bernard M. Forestier, Philippe Ch. Delaporte, Marc L. Sentis, and I. Tassy "High pulse rate frequency (PRF) long-pulse x-ray preionized spiker-sustainer XeCl laser", Proc. SPIE 2502, Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium, (31 March 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.204950

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