Electron-beam-controlled method for the excitation of stimulated emission of vacuum ultraviolet radiation from xenon

Abstract

An analysis is made of the stimulated emission due to electron transitions in the Xe2 molecule as a result of excitation by the electron-beam-controlled method. A numerical solution is obtained of the transport equation for the electron energy distribution function in high-pressure xenon subjected to a static electric field. The excitation rates of electron levels of Xe are calculated. The computed efficiency of the conversion of the pump energy into radiation may reach 65–75%. Theoretical estimates are obtained of a population inversion and gain in the vacuum ultraviolet as a result of electron-beam-controlled excitation. In an experimental study, stimulated emission at λ=172.5 nm was obtained as a result of pumping with a fast-electron beam. An investigation was made of the spectral and energy characteristics of the spontaneous and stimulated radiation. The efficiency of electron-beam pumping of Xe compressed to 16 atm was ~15%. The energy input into the gas in an electron-beam-controlled method was measured. The degradation of the active medium was investigated in the two cases of the excitation by the electron-beam-controlled method and the pumping with an electron beam.