Li2 and Na2 3Σg+–3Σu+ excimer emission

Abstract
Ab initio calculations show the 3Σg+3Σu+ in Li2 and Na2 dimers to be primarily a near‐infrared continuum with respective v′=0 lifetimes of 62 and 15 nsec. The peak stimulated emission cross section for v′=0 is 4.5×10−−6 at 1.3μ for Li2 and 1.8×10−15 cm2 at 0.83μ for Na2. These calculations suggest a tunable high gain, near‐infrared laser excimer if the 3Σg+ state can be populated sufficiently rapidly.