Dynamics and correlated performance of a photo-triggered discharge-pumped HF laser using SF6 with hydrogen or ethane

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, has been performed in Ne/SF₆/H₂ and Ne/SF₆/C₂H₆ mixtures. Parameters involved have been the storage line capacitance and the circuit inductance, the capacitors charging voltage, the RH-molecule type and partial pressure, and the X-ray dose for the preionization. High laser performance has been achieved with C₂H₆: an output energy up to 3 J corresponding to a specific energy of 9.6 J/l at an efficiency of 4.7%, which strengthens the advantage of the photo-triggering technique to energize high-power HF lasers. However the optimum performance achieved with H₂, 5.75 J/l and 3.5%, are lower. It is shown, through a time-resolved study of the electrical discharge and spatial dynamics correlated to laser power and energy measurements, that discharge instabilities are responsible for the poor laser performance of the mixture with H₂. These instabilities, which lead to arc development, are characteristics of the discharge in Ne/SF₆. It is demonstrated for the first time that addition of a heavy hydrocarbon, such as C₂H₆, to that mixture induces the discharge stabilization so that the laser emission arises in a homogeneous active medium. This effect allows us to achieve better laser performance than with H₂.