Large aperture discharge-pumped KrF laser for picosecond amplification

A large aperture discharge-pumped KrF laser module with simple spark gaps was developed. The laser beam cross section of 4cm×3cm and the maximum laser output energy of 1.3J in 20ns were obtained at the charging voltage of 30kV and gas mixtures of ［F2］∶［Kr］∶［Ne］= 0.1∶2∶97.9. The gain and absorption coefficients at different gas mixtures were measured with a frequency doubled dye laser pumped by a XeCl laser. Using this laser module as a ps amplifier, the output energy of 140mJ in 10ps was obtained.