Accessibility of the KrF*(B) state to laser photons

Abstract

Using electron beam excitation of Ar/Kr/F₂ mixtures in a 1‐m laser, we monitored KrF*(B) sidelight fluorescence of the 249‐nm B→X transition. Comparing signals observed in the presence and absence of cavity flux, we evaluated the ability of the photon field to depopulate the upper laser level by stimulated emission. From these experiments, we concluded that some of the KrF* population was in higher vibrational levels and could not be effectively extracted by stimulated emission at the normal laser operating wavelength.