Observations of Gain by Stimulated Emission in the Werner Band of Molecular Hydrogen

Stimulated emission of vacuum ultraviolet radiation has been observed on two $Q1\mathrm{}$ lines in the Werner band ($C^1{\Pi }_{\mathrm{u}}\to X^1{{\Sigma }_{\mathrm{g}}}^{+}$) of molecular hydrogen. These lines, 1161 and 1230 Å, contain 5 kW peak power and were produced by a traveling-wave discharge system. Using this excitation principle, evidence of gain has been obtained by observations of optimum velocity matching at pulse velocities less than $c$.