Anti-Stokes Raman laser emission at 149 nm in atomic bromine

Upconversion of an F(2) discharge laser (157 nm) to 149 nm by means of anti-Stokes Raman laser emission in inverted, metastable Br atoms is reported. Approximately 0.1 mJ of energy in a 5-nsec-duration pulse was observed, implying a peak power of 20 kW in the VUV. This represents the first reported use of Br as an anti-Stokes laser medium and the first reported application of this technique for the upconversion of excimer or discharge lasers and is the deepest VUV wavelength yet created by this general method.