VACUUM ULTRAVIOLET LASER EMISSION FROM MOLECULAR HYDROGEN

Abstract

Using a short‐risetime traveling‐wave discharge system, lasing has been produced in molecular hydrogen in the 1600‐Å region and confirmed by direct observation of extensive amplification in the direction of travel. Pulsewidths and powers on the order of 1 nsec and hundreds of kilowatts, respectively, are observed. The ten H₂ lines resolved extend from 1567 to 1613 Å in the Lyman band. The laser lines originate from transitions between the vibrational levels of the state ${\text{B(2pσ}}^1{\Sigma }_u^{+})$ and the higher vibrational levels of the ground state ${\text{X(1s}}^1{\Sigma }_g^{+})$ .