A linac-pumped excimer laser: Fluorescence and scaling studies

This work was an experimental investigation of a potential large-scale excimer laser system, in which a high-pressure KrF gas mix was pumped by the 4-MeV electron beam from an available linear accelerator. As a function of the mix and the pressure, fluorescence from KrFsup(*) and/or Kr2Fsup(*) were produced with good efficiency. Comparing measured data with a kinetic model, it was found that the kinetics followed the normal patterns seen in low-energy electron pumping. The data fitting process also resulted in a new value for the three-body quenching rate constant for reactions involving Ar. A critical factor in the development of this laser will be an improvement in beam control over that afforded by a simple solenoidal magnet. The conditions necessary for lasing are predicted; no inherent limitaions on scaling of the device were found. (orig.)