Performance evaluation of lead vapor heat-pipe as a stimulated Raman converter for XeCl lasers

High power (6.6 W at 43 pps) stimulated Raman scattering at 459 nm was obtained by down shifting the radiation of a XeCl excimer laser in a lead vapor heat-pipe. Experiments were conducted with different buffer gas species. Photon conversion efficiency as high as 66 percent and energy slope efficiency of 53 percent obtained with Xe as the buffer gas at 1300°C. The apparatus was in daily use for a period of six months without maintenance.