Direct nuclear pumping of a Ne-N2 laser

Direct nuclear pumping of a Ne-N2 laser has been achieved with simultaneous output at two wavelengths (8629 and 9393 Å) in atomic nitrogen. Pumping was achieved through bombardment of the gas by MeV ions generated when neutrons from a TRIGA reactor interact with a boron-10 coating on the inner wall of the laser cell. Pressure, concentration, threshold, and other parameters are presented.