Discharge constriction, photodetachment, and ionization instabilities in electron-beam-sustained discharge excimer lasers

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.337331· OSTI ID:5582054

Kushner, M J; Pindroh, A L

Rare gas--halogen excimer lasers excited by electron-beam-sustained discharges (EBSD) will operate stably for only a limited length of time (hundreds of nanoseconds to a few microseconds). In this paper, results from a multidimensional model for an EBSD KrF laser are used to study various aspects of discharge ionization and geometric stability, and the relationship between the two. We examine the effects of photodetachment of electrons from the halogen negative ion, of circuit response, and of nonuniform e-italic-beam power deposition upon the onset of discharge instabilities. We find that both spontaneous emission from KrF* and laser oscillation resulting in photodetachment of electrons from F/sup -/ can initiate an ionization instability. By operating with high impedance electrical circuits, the tendency towards instabilities by this effect can be reduced. We also find that the spatial uniformity of the e-italic-beam power deposition is directly correlated with both the rate of discharge constriction and the time at which the discharge suffers an ionization instability.

• Research Organization: Spectra Technology Inc. (Formerly Mathematical Sciences Northwest), 2755 Northup Way, Bellevue, Washington 98004
• OSTI ID: 5582054
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 60:3; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
EXCIMER LASERS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAS LASERS
GLOW DISCHARGES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INSTABILITY
IONIZATION
KRYPTON COMPOUNDS
KRYPTON FLUORIDES
LASERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OPERATION
PHOTOIONIZATION
RARE GAS COMPOUNDS
STABILITY