Abstract

Efficient high-power operation of high-pressure Ar-Xe lasers has been reported by several investigators who have used a variety of excitation techniques. High-pressure Ar-Xe devices typically operate with gas mixtures composed of a small amount of xenon in an argon buffer at total pressures of several atmospheres. The laser spectrum is normally dominated by emission at 1.73μm with efficiencies as high as 5% reported. Other weaker lines at 2.02, 2.82, 2.65, and 3.37 μm usually contribute a few percent of the total power.

© 1988 Optical Society of America