Laser action on the <i>B</i>2Σ+1/2→<i>X</i>2Σ+1/2 band of HgBr at 5018 Å

Abstract

This letter describes a new laser operating on the B2Σ+1/2→X2Σ+1/2 band of HgBr at 5018 Å. Pumping was achieved by high-intensity electron-beam excitation of high-pressure Ar/Xe mixtures containing small amounts of Hg and HBr. A lower bound to the efficiency was determined to be 0.25% in an unoptimized configuration, and higher efficiency is expected.