X-ray preionized discharge-pumped KrF laser

An x-ray preionized LC-inversion discharge pumped XeCl laser has been converted for KrF operation. The x rays were produced by a long pulse (400 nsec FWHM) secondary emission electron gun. A KrF laser energy of 1.2 J is obtained, only slightly lower than those obtained in an XeCl regime at the same pumping conditions.