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A krypton fluoride laser (KrF laser) absorbs energy from a source and causes the krypton gas to react with the fluorine gas, producing krypton fluoride, which is an unstable compound.

2Kr_(g) + F_{2 (g)} ^{electron energy}→ 2KrF_(g)

When the supplied energy is stopped, the compound will decompose and the excess chemical energy stored in the compound will release in the form of strongly synchronized radiation.

2KrF_(g) → 2Kr_(g) + F_{2 (g)} + energy

The result is an excimer laser that radiates energy at 248 nm, which lies in the near ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The light emitted by the KrF is invisible to the human eye, so additional safety precautions are necessary when working with this laser to avoid stray beams. Gloves are needed to protect the flesh from the potentially carcinogenic of the UV beam, and UV goggles are needed to protect the eyes.

Applications

The KrF laser has been of interest in the nuclear fusion energy research community in inertial confinement experiments. This laser has high beam uniformity, short wavelength, and the ability to modify the spot size to track an imploding pellet.

In 1985 the Los Alamos National Laboratory completed a test firing of an experimental KrF laser with an energy level of 1.0 × 10⁴ Joules. The Laser Plasma Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory completed a KrF laser called Nike that can produce about 4.5 × 10³ Joules of UV energy output in a 4 nanosecond pulse. This later laser is being used in laser confinement experiments.

The KrF laser is also used in laser microlithography, where the short wavelength is desireable for etching very small features. However it will likely be replaced for this purpose by the argon fluoride laser, which has a 193 nm wavelength. Pulse widths of KrF lasers in commercial applications is typically 20-30 nanoseconds.

This laser has also been used to produce soft X-ray emission from a plasma irradiated by brief pulses of this laser light. Other potential applications include machining of certain materials such as plastic, glass, crystal, composite materials and organic tissue. The light from this UV laser is strongly absorbed by lipids, nucleic acids and proteins, giving it potential applications in medical therapy and surgery.

References

J. Sethian, M. Friedman, M. Myers, S. Obenschain, R, Lehmberg, J. Giuliani, P. Kepple, F. Hegeler, S. Swanekamp, D. Weidenheimer, "Krypton Fluoride Laser Development for Inertial Fusion Energy".
M. C. Myers, J. D. Sethian, J. L. Giuliani, R. Lehmberg, P. Kepple, M. F. Wolford, F. Hegeler, M. Friedman, T. C. Jones, S. B. Swanekamp, D. Weidenheimer and D. Rose, "Repetitively pulsed, high energy KrF lasers for inertial fusion energy", 2004, Nuclear Fusion, 44.
J. Goldhar, K. S. Jancaitis, J. R. Murray, L. G. Schlitt, "An 850 J, 150 ns narrow-band krypton fluoride laser", 1984, 13th Intern. Conf. on Quantum Electron.

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+A '''krypton fluoride laser''' (KrF laser) absorbs energy from a source and causes the [[krypton]] gas to react with the [[fluorine]] gas, producing krypton fluoride, which is an unstable compound.
-{{SCOTW}}
-A '''krypton fluoride laser''' absorbs energy from a source and causes the [[krypton]] gas to react with the [[fluorine]] gas, producing krypton fluoride, which is an unstable compound.
-:Kr<sub> (g)</sub> + F<sub>2 (g)</sub> <sup>electron energy</sup>→ KrF<sub>2 (g)</sub>
+:2Kr<sub> (g)</sub> + F<sub>2 (g)</sub> <sup>electron energy</sup>→ 2KrF<sub> (g)</sub>
 When the supplied energy is stopped, the compound will decompose and the excess chemical energy stored in the compound will release in the form of strongly synchronized radiation.
-:KrF<sub>2 (g)</sub> → Kr<sub> (g)</sub> + F<sub>2 (g)</sub> + energy
+:2KrF<sub> (g)</sub> → 2Kr<sub> (g)</sub> + F<sub>2 (g)</sub> + energy
+The result is an [[excimer laser]] that radiates energy at 248 nm, which lies in the near [[ultraviolet]] portion of the [[spectrum]]. The light emitted by the KrF is invisible to the human eye, so additional safety precautions are necessary when working with this laser to avoid stray beams. Gloves are needed to protect the flesh from the potentially [[carcinogen]]ic of the UV beam, and UV goggles are needed to protect the eyes.
-The result is a [[laser]].
+==Applications==
+The KrF laser has been of interest in the nuclear [[fusion]] energy research community in inertial confinement experiments. This laser has high beam uniformity, short wavelength, and the ability to modify the spot size to track an imploding pellet.
+In [[1985]] the [[Los Alamos National Laboratory]] completed a test firing of an experimental KrF laser with an energy level of 1.0 &times; 10<sup>4</sup> [[Joule]]s. The Laser Plasma Branch of the [[Naval Research Laboratory]] completed a KrF laser called ''Nike'' that can produce about 4.5 &times; 10<sup>3</sup> [[Joules]] of UV energy output in a 4 [[nanosecond]] pulse. This later laser is being used in laser confinement experiments.
+The KrF laser is also used in laser [[Photolithography|microlithography]], where the short wavelength is desireable for etching very small features. However it will likely be replaced for this purpose by the [[argon fluoride laser]], which has a 193 nm wavelength. Pulse widths of KrF lasers in commercial applications is typically 20-30 nanoseconds.
+This laser has also been used to produce soft X-ray
+emission from a [[plasma]] irradiated by brief pulses
+of this laser light. Other potential applications include machining of certain materials such as plastic, glass, crystal, composite materials and organic tissue. The light from this UV laser is strongly absorbed by [[lipid]]s, [[nucleic acid]]s and [[protein]]s, giving it potential applications in medical therapy and surgery.
+==References==
+* J. Sethian, M. Friedman, M. Myers, S. Obenschain, R, Lehmberg, J. Giuliani, P. Kepple, F. Hegeler, S. Swanekamp, D. Weidenheimer, "Krypton Fluoride Laser Development for Inertial Fusion Energy".
+* M. C. Myers, J. D. Sethian, J. L. Giuliani, R. Lehmberg, P. Kepple, M. F. Wolford, F. Hegeler, M. Friedman, T. C. Jones, S. B. Swanekamp, D. Weidenheimer and D. Rose, "Repetitively pulsed, high energy KrF lasers for inertial fusion energy", 2004, ''Nuclear Fusion'', 44.
+* J. Goldhar, K. S. Jancaitis, J. R. Murray, L. G. Schlitt, "An 850 J, 150 ns narrow-band krypton fluoride laser", 1984, 13th Intern. Conf. on Quantum Electron.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 17: / Line 32: @@
 ==External links==
 * [http://other.nrl.navy.mil/LaserFusionEnergy/lasercreation.htm Laser fusion energy]
+* [http://other.nrl.navy.mil/nike.html Nike KrF Laser Facility]
+* [http://www.nikon-precision.com/products/nsr/krf/fs_krf.htm Nikon KrF]
 [[Category:Lasers]]
+[[Category:Noble gases]]