Abstract

A large volume (10 × 9.5 × 100 cm³), x-ray triggered, self-sustained discharge pumped XeCl laser has been operated with a positive branch unstable resonator (PBUR). An output energy of 5 J on 8 × 9 cm² transverse cross-section with a pulse duration of 100 ns (FWHM) was obtained with a magnification M = 7 (defined as the ratio between the radii of curvature of the two aluminized mirrors); this result must be compared with an output energy equal to 8 J on the same cross-section with a pulse length of 140 ns of an optimized plano–plano cavity.¹

© 1992 Optical Society of America