Subnanosecond pulses from a KrF laser pumped SF6Brillouin amplifier

Experimental measurements are presented of pulse compression in a backward Brillouin amplifier using SF
6
gas pumped by 0.9 GHz linewidth KrF laser radiation. Average pulse durations of 390 ps and energy extraction effieiencies of 40 percent from 24 ns pump pulses have been demonstrated at pressures of 15.3 and 12.6 atm, respectively.