Efficient operation modes of a non-chain HF-laser pumped by self-sustained discharge

Amplitude-temporal and spectral parameters of laser radiation and electric discharge parameters in gas mixtures of SF6 with hydrogen and hydrocarbons in the high efficiency operation mode are studied. The laser efficiency with respect to deposited energy up to eta(dep) similar to10 % is obtained using both inductive and capacitor generators. It was shown that maximal efficiency of the HF-laser is reached under high E/p parameter value across the laser gap during excitation pulse (where E is the electric field strength, p is the gas mixture pressure). Application of profilated electrodes along with UV preionization allows to obtain specific output of the non-chain HF-laser of about 140 J/lxatm and total laser efficiency eta(0)similar to4.5%. It was found that output spectra of the laser in the high efficiency operation mode significantly widen and cascade laser action on some rotational lines of HF molecule vibrational transitions nu(3-2) --> nu(2-1) --> nu(1-0) is observed.