Observation of lasing on the two J = 0–1, 3p–3s transitions at 261 and 304 nm in neonlike vanadium

Abstract

We report the first observation to our knowledge of lasing at 26.1 and 30.4 nm in neonlike vanadium ions in a recent experiment conducted on the Asterix IV iodine laser at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Quantenoptik. The two lasing lines have been identified as the 3p1S0 –3s3P1 and 3p1S0 –3s1P1 transitions in neonlike vanadium ions. The transition at 26.1 nm is the first of the 3p1S0 –3s3P1 transitions in neonlike ions that has been observed to lase, and it was observed to have a higher gain than the other transition. Spatially resolved measurements showed that the lasing for this transition occurs at a position slightly farther from the target surface than for the 3p1S0 –3s1P1 one.