HF and DF lasers by direct electrical discharge excitation

Using a high-current long-pulse electron-beam-stabilized electrical discharge, laser oscillation has been observed on several vibration-rotation bands of HF and DF in mixtures containing less than 1% HF or DF. Results in HF/argon mixtures with 10% added N2, H2, or D2 established that HF is vibrationally pumped by direct electron impact and also by vibrational energy transfer from H2. Rotational nonequilibrium as well as cascade coupling between 3 → 2 lines and 2 → 1 lines were inferred from the time sequence of the laser emission.