Abstract

Pulsed laser emission in Xe at 231.5 nm was observed previously.¹ Those experiments showed high gain arid indicated the possibility of high-power output from a cw discharge. Continuous lasing on this transition was achieved recently;² however, the lasing threshold was near the point of discharge instability and output was limited to ~20 mW. With an improved Xe are discharge device we now report 2-W cw output at 231.5 nm.

© 1992 Optical Society of America