Plasma physics issues in gas discharge laser development

Author

Garscadden, Alan ; Kushner, Mark J. ; Eden, J. Gary

Author_Institution

Wright Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA

Volume

19

Issue

6

fYear

1991

fDate

12/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1013

Lastpage

1031

Abstract

An account is given of the interplay between partially ionized plasma physics and the development of gas discharge lasers. Gas discharge excitation has provided a wide array of laser devices extending from the soft X-ray region to the far infrared. The scaling of gas discharge lasers in power and energy also covers many orders of magnitude. The particular features of three regimes are discussed: short wavelength lasers (deep UV to soft X-ray), visible and near UV lasers, and infrared molecule gas lasers. The current status (fall, 1990) of these areas is reviewed and an assessment is made of future research topics that are perceived to be important

Keywords

X-ray lasers; discharges (electric); excimer lasers; gas lasers; plasma applications; reviews; IR lasers; deep UV lasers; far IR region; gas discharge excitation; gas discharge laser development; laser devices; molecule gas lasers; near UV lasers; partially ionized plasma physics; review; short wavelength lasers; soft X-ray lasers; soft X-ray region; visible lasers; Discharges; Gas lasers; Laser excitation; Laser theory; Optical arrays; Physics; Plasma devices; Plasma x-ray sources; Power lasers; X-ray lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.125028

Filename

125028