Hybrid electromagnetic wave / electron source pumping of high-power gas lasers

Abstract

A laser pumping method includes pumping a gas laser medium in a laser chamber by heating electrons in the gas laser medium with electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic source, resulting in populating the upper laser level. Electron density in a plasma formed in the gas laser medium is generated and controlled with an electron source that is internal or external to the laser chamber. A high-power excimer laser includes a laser chamber containing a high-power gas laser medium, a pulsed electromagnetic source configured to heat free electrons in the laser medium and thereby generate laser emissions from the gas laser medium, and a pulsed electron source configured to generate free electrons and control the electron density in the gas laser plasma medium.

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