Vacuum-Ultraviolet Laser Action Observed in the Lyman Bands of Molecular Hydrogen

Abstract

Stimulated emission has been observed in the $P$ -branch lines of the 3-10, 4-11, 5-12, 6-13, and 7-13 Lyman bands (${v}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}{v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$, $B^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{\mathrm{u}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}X^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}$) of molecular hydrogen near 1600 \AA{}. Light pulses of approximately 2 nsec duration and 1.5 kW maximum power were produced using a Blumlein parallel-plate transmission line discharging through hydrogen gas at pressures between 20 and 150 Torr.