Abstract:
A system for pumping wide-aperture excimer lasers was based on compact capacitively isolated Blumlein pulse shaping lines. The use of a single switch with automatic ultraviolet preionization ensured that the laser was simple, reliable, and capable of operation at a high pulse repetition frequency. Laser output energies of 7.6 and 16 J with an efficiency of 1.2% were obtained in XeCl lasers having active volumes of 3.5 and 6.5 liters.