Scaling a double-pulsed copper chloride laser to 10 mJ

Abstract

By use of low-inductance (0.5 μH) discharge circuits, pulses of 9.6 mJ were obtained from a double-pulsed CuCl laser. An oscillator-amplifier configuration produced a pulse energy of 11 mJ. Scaling studies indicate that additional increases in the laser energy could be obtained by increasing the discharge voltage above 20 kV and/or by increasing the laser-tube dimensions.