title: Generation of high-brightness coherent radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet by four-wave parametric oscillation in mercury vapor.
abstract: Coherent radiation at several wavelengths in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) has been generated by four-wave parametric oscillation in mercury vapor. When a powerful ultraviolet pump laser of frequency omega(p) is tuned to a two-photon resonance, VUV signal photons at frequency omega(s), as well as idler photons at frequency omega(i), are generated such that omega(s) + omega(i) = 2omega(p). A frequency-doubled dye laser tuned to two-photon resonance with the 6s6d(1)D(2) level near 280.3 nm produced output at 184.9 and 143.5 nm. A tunable krypton fluoride excimer laser tuned to two-photon resonance with the 6s10s (1)S(0) level near 248.7 nm produced output at 140.1, 130.7, 130.1, 125.9, and 125.0 nm. Approximately 1-microJ, 200-W pulses were observed at 143.5 and 125.9 nm.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bokor
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Panock
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: White