A comparison of Kr and Xe flashlamps for Nd:YAG lasers

Linear krypton and xenon flashlamps (6 mm bore, 3 in. arc) having various fill pressures between 450 Torr and 4 atm. have been operated in a single elliptical gold-plated pump cavity to excite a Nd:YAG laser rod (0.25 in. dia., 3 in. long). Laser operation as a function of lamp fill, for electrical input energies ranging from 2 to 40 J (120 µs pulse duration) and for pulse repetition rates from single-shot to 20 Hz, will be described. The results will be analyzed, and the results and analysis will be compared to those of Oliver and Barnes (1). Our findings complement those of Oliver and Barnes; these two studies show that, for each of the two different experimental arrangements and regimes of operation, Kr lamps are generally superior to Xe lamps for pumping Nd:YAG except at high current densities.