Efficient HgBr (BX) laser oscillation in electron-beam-controlled-discharge-excited Xe/HgBr2 mixtures

Abstract
This letter reports the results of an investigation of HgBr(B2J+X2J+) laser oscillation at 502 nm in Xe‐HgBr2 mixtures excited using an electron‐beam‐controlled discharge. Measured values of instantaneous electrical‐optical energy conversion efficiency were 2%, a level substantially higher than that typical of N2‐HgBr2 mixtures. Calculations show that efficiencies of 5–10% may be possible under optimized conditions.