Efficient E-beam excitation of XeCl

Efficient laser output at 308 nm has been obtained from XeCl in an Ne/Xe/HCl mixture at a pressure of 4 atm by
e
-beam excitation and by
e
-beam controlled discharge pumping. Maximum energy extraction is 7 J/1 for
e
-beam excitation and 9 J/1 for the
e
-beam controlled discharge. Efficiencies based on total energy deposited in the gas are approximately 4 percent. Similar results were obtained with KrF in the same device, indicating that under
e
-beam or
e
-beam controlled discharge excitation, XeCl may be as efficient as KrF.