Abstract

We report the use of a new compact technique for pumping the 116.1-nm transition in the Werner band (C¹Π_u → X¹Σ_g⁺) of molecular hydrogen. The laser is pumped by photoelectrons ionized¹ from the hydrogen molecules by soft x-rays created by a laser- produced plasma in an oblique incidence traveling-wave geometry.² Using 2.5 J of 1064-nm pump energy in a 300-ps pulse, we measure a small signal gain coefficient of 0. 8.cm⁻¹ and a total small signal gain of exp(16). This gain coefficient is more than an order of magnitude larger than the gain coefficient measured by Hodgson and Dreyfus³ using an electron-beam excitation source.

© 1990 Optical Society of America