Nitrogen laser emitting ultraviolet radiation of high specific power at a high pulse repetition frequency

A study was made of the characteristics of a transverse-discharge molecular nitrogen laser (λ =337.1 nm). When the length of the discharge chamber was 190 mm, the average output power was 210 mW. The specific average and pulse powers exceeded 40 mW/cm3 and 40 kW/cm3, respectively. Stimulated emission was observed at pulse repetition frequencies in excess of 2 kHz. The high specific power and high pulse repetition frequency were achieved in a laser discharge chamber whose walls were made of a ceramic characterized by a high thermal conductivity and were in contact with a relaxing plasma.