HF and DF laser action by a pulsed microwave discharge

A pulsed electrodeless microwave discharge with
E
-field enhancement by a tapered waveguide has been employed to produce HF and DF laser radiation from premixtutes of SF
6
+ H
6
and SF
6
+ D
2
. The 720 patm (690 patm) HF (DF) laser had an average multiline output power of 6 mW (1 mW) for an efficiency of 0.1 percent (0.02 percent) while operating at 1 kHz (450 Hz) pulse-repetition frequency (PRF). The HF (DF) laser was operated at reduced output power and efficiency up to 4.2 kHz (2.5 kHz) PRF. Reduced HF laser efficiency was obtained when C
3
H
8
was substituted for H
2
.