1730-Å radiation dominated by stimulated emission from high-pressure xenon

Experimental data are presented which demonstrate superfluorescent radiation due to stimulated transitions between the lowest-bound diatomic states of xenon and the repulsive ground state. In this context, superfluorescence describes a condition where, even in the absence of feedback, radiation from the fluorescent medium is dominated by stimulated transitions. The continuum emission spectrum was highly anisotropic and narrowing of the spectrum was observed. The optical gain was greatest at a wavelength of 1730 ± 10 Å, where the experimentally estimated effective gain cross section is 1 × 10−18 cm2.