Improved performance of an electrically initiated HF laser

Some methods for improving the efficiency of electrically initiated HF lasers are discussed. Measurement of the laser pulse shape produced by 30-ns discharges in SF6:C2H6at several mixtures and pressures is reported. These pulse shapes are compared to the laser and current pulses produced by a two-stage Marx bank that gives laser pulses of 1.4 J with 3.1-percent electrical efficiency from an active volume of 0.331. A second bank is described, which gives pulses up to 3.5 J with 1.8-percent efficiency, with a peak power of 35 MW.