Elevated temperature extraction measurements of a high Kr-concentration KrF laser

Recently, we performed room-temperature extraction1,2 measurements of e-beam-pumped KrF laser mixtures (Ar diluent) containing 4-99.8% Kr. The results demonstrate that Kr-rich mixtures have comparable efficiencies to conventional 4-6% Kr mixtures at high pressures (≥1.7 atm). Improving the performance of the Kr-rich mixtures may be possible by increasing the initial temperature of the medium to reduce Kr2F* formation as originally suggested by Shui.3 The formation of Kr2F reduces gain by quenching KrF* and by absorbing at the laser wavelength.