Generation and amplification of nanosecond pulses by iodine lasers

Results are reported of experimental investigations of high-power photodissociation iodine laser pumped by lamps and by radiation from high-current electric discharges. The basic parameters of the working medium, the parameters of both lamp-pumped and discharge-pumped lasers, and methods of shaping of a short pulse with diffraction directivity of the radiation are investigated. The possibility of effective amplification of a short pulse by an iodine amplifier pumped with an open high-current discharge is demonstrated. An iodine laser generating a pulse of duration 1 nsec, divergence 10/sup -4/ rad, and energy 100 J at a contrast 10/sup 8/ and 300 J at a contrast 10/sup 2/-10/sup 3/ is described.