Vacuum ultraviolet laser emission from Nd+3:LaF3

Abstract
Laser emission at 172 nm has been produced by pumping a Nd:LaF3 crystal with incoherent Kr*2 radiation at 146 nm. The 5‐ns pulse contained approximately 20–30 μJ of energy. Fluorescence measurements indicate potential for tuning from 170–175 nm, which should be observable with OH‐free crystals.