Krypton excimer laser oscillation by discharge pumping

We have demonstrated vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser oscillation of the krypton excimer (Kr2*) excited by a compact self-sustained discharge device. We have observed a spectral narrowing of the Kr2* emission centered at 147.8 nm. A deconvoluted spectral width is 0.5 nm (FWHM), which reveals a contrast to a 13 nm spectral width of the spontaneous emission. The Kr2* intensity has increased one order of magnitude when a charging voltage was increased larger than 29 kV. The success of the lasing in the VUV spectral region has been attributed to the success of a stable glow discharge of Kr at 10 atm. The pulse width of the VUV laser radiation is 400 ns (FWHM). The maximum output energy measured is as large as 150 μJ. (author)