Two-photon dissociation of HgBr2 as passive mode locking mechanism of a long-pulse XeCl excimer laser

Results are presented related to the use of two-photon dissociation of HgBr₂ molecular vapor as a non-linear fast-opening passive mode locker of a long-pulse XeCl laser. A dye solution, with or without scatterers, is also examined for comparison. Pulses with durations below our resolution limit of 400 ps and with a modulation better than 90% are reported. The low threshold, the non-destruction and the broadband absorption causing photodissociation make this molecule useful for laser pulse compression and decoupling for many lasers in the ultraviolet region. Received: 22 April 2002 / Revised version: 2 July 2002 / Published online: 25 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +30-2810/394201, E-mail: efthim@physics.uoc.gr