A slab Xe laser excited by a non-self-sustained discharge

Repetitively pulsed lasing with a high repetition rate of 10 — 20 kHz is obtained for the first time in the near-IR region from Xe atoms excited by a non-self-sustained dc discharge with preionisation by high-voltage pulses. For an active medium with dimensions 190 mm×20 mm×20 mm, the average output power was ~100 mW and the peak power was ~5 W. The relative intensity of lasing transitions can be controlled by varying the dc discharge input power and selecting the composition and pressure of a gas mixture.