Ultraviolet and infrared lasers with high efficiency

The results of the experimental study of UV and IR lasers pumped by various methods are presented. The accelerators with radially converging or planar e-beams pumping gas mixtures at pressures up to 3 atm and self-sustained discharges were used. The highest laser radiation energies in the UV up to 2 kJ have been obtained at lambda = 308 nm. Output of 100 J at lambda = 1.73 mu m in Ar-Xe mixture and 50 J at lambda = 2.03 mu m in He-Ar-Xe mixture was obtained from the e-beam laser with active volume of 600 l. Output energies of 110 J at lambda = 308 nm and 90 J at lambda similar to 250 nm, respectively, were achieved in compact high-power e-beam laser with chamber of 20 cm in diameter and 30 l active volume. This e-beam geometry was shown to be very promising for excitation of non-chain HF-laser media. HF-Iaser efficiency with respect to deposited energy as high as similar to 10 % and energy up to 200 J at lambda similar to 2.8 mu m were demonstrated. Amplification of XeCl-laser beam from master oscillators and amplifiers under conditions of strong amplified spontaneous emission is considered. Investigations of CO2 lasers excited by e-beam controlled discharge and e-beam ignited discharge were performed. The highest laser output in the IR of 3 kJ have been obtained at lambda = 10.6 mu m.