The homogeneity of a stabilized discharge-pumped XeCl* laser

* laser arrangement. The special pumping technique of this laser discharge is based on the additional use of a stabilizing low-current preliminary discharge. The model takes into account the time-dependent electron Boltzmann equation including electron–electron interaction for the determination of the electron kinetics, an extensive reaction kinetics involving various heavy particles and photons, and the relevant electrical circuit equations. The study has shown that density perturbations of preionization electrons lead to the inhomogeneity of the discharge plasma and the laser output. Furthermore, the impact of the spatial distribution of preionization electrons, of the HCl portion of the gas mixture, and of a low-current preliminary discharge for the discharge operation is discussed. Received: 10 September 1996/Revised version: 21 July 1997