Multiline (480–496 nm) discharge-pumped iodine monofluoride laser

Abstract
Lasing at 478.7, 484.7, 490.7, and 496.5 nm has been observed on the EA3Π (bound→bound) band of the IF (iodine monofluoride) molecule in discharge‐pumped He, Ar, CF3I, and NF3 gas mixtures. Oscillation was obtained using a stable optical cavity with output coupling mirror transmissions of 0.2 and 92%. For a 99.7%‐He, 0.2%‐NF3, and 0.1%‐CF3I (ptotal≈1540 Torr) gas mixture and T∼92% (quartz flat), output pulse energies of ∼0.35 mJ in a ∼15‐ns FWHM pulse (peak output power ≳24 kW) were measured. Optimization of the cavity output coupling and increased Ar pressures in conjunction with the use of an attaching gas (to raise the discharge E/N) are expected to improve the output energy and, consequently, the overall efficiency of this blue‐green laser.