Kinetics modelling of a self-sustained discharge KrF laser

A kinetics model was improved to describe the operation of a self-sustained discharge KrF laser in a Kr - - He gas mixture. The improvements include considerations of the effects of the discharge excited-state manifolds of Kr atoms and molecules on the electron energy distribution function, the KrF excimer formation and electron-impact ionization of the doubly excited species, and a two-state model for the upper laser level. The model predictions were compared to the experimental results from a UV-pre-ionized, transversely excited KrF laser, and reasonably good agreements were obtained between the predicted and experimental laser output energy and temporal pulse characteristics.