A photopreionized atmospheric pressure HF laser

An atmospheric pressure HF laser employing sliding-spark preionization and pulsed, transverse excitation has been successfully operated. Uniform, stable glow discharges measuring 3 × 3 cm in cross section have been produced in flowing mixtures of SF
6
C
3
H
8
, and He gases, giving laser output energies of 425 mJ on a total of 12 vibrational-rotational transitions.