Abstract

In recent experiments VUV radiation of high spectral brightness has been generated at around 155 nm by two-photon resonant four-wave mixing (difference-frequency generation) in xenon using narrow-bandwidth lasers in the visible and ultraviolet.¹ Efficiencies of 0.25% have been achieved, but it was found that the process was heavily saturated. A major saturating process is believed to be single-photon ionization from the two-photon resonant state, 6p J = 0 (Fig. WKK4-1a). Further experiments to investigate the three-photon ionization are described. These experiments involved a detailed study of the ionization process.

© 1984 Optical Society of America