Ultraviolet laser action in He-Ag and Ne-Ag mixtures

Abstract
We report eight new laser transitions which span the wavelength region from 220 to 400 nm. Six of the ultraviolet transitions are observed in Ne‐Ag mixtures and two are observed in He‐Ag mixtures. The 227.8‐ and 224.3‐nm laser transitions of Ag II, 4d3D2‐5p3P01 and 4d1S0‐5p1P01 respectively, are the shortest‐wavelength cw laser transitions reported in the literature to date. Output characteristics of the ultraviolet laser transitions as a function of buffer gas pressure and discharge current are presented. The strongest laser transition 4d85s2 1G4→4d95p3F03, at 318.1 nm, provides single‐line peak output power of 350 mW. The output power does not appear to saturate at the limit of our input current, 50 A.