Feasibility of generation of VUV stimulated radiation utilising resonant levels of ions populated by charge-transfer reactions

摘要

An analysis is made of the feasibility of constructing a VUV laser which utilises the reaction of charge transfer between neon ions and rubidium atoms. The example of an Ne+—Rb mixture is used to show that a population inversion can be established between resonantly excited and ground levels of the rubidium ion when a neon-ion beam strikes a target of rubidium atoms. It should be possible to reach a VUV radiation energy of up to ~0.4 mJ per pulse at the wavelength 71.1 nm. Experiments show that the cross section of the charge-transfer reaction is (2 ± 0.5)×10-15 cm2 and that efficient excitation of the upper active level of Rb+ is possible in a plasma formed from an Ne—Rb mixture.