Efficient low-voltage operation of a reverse-biased autoprepulse XeCI laser

An improved version of the auto-prepulse excitation scheme for long-pulse operation of the XeC1 excimer laser is reported. A pulsed reverse bias on the small peaking capacitance allows efficient (1.7%) operation at 100 mJ output level with a charge voltage limited to 5-7 kV. Analogies and differences with other longpulse operation schemes are also discussed.