Molecular fluorine laser excited by a high-power proton beam

A study was made of the dependence of the output energy and efficiency of an F₂ laser (λ = 157 nm) on the specific pump power (up to 40 MW/cm³). The maximum lasing efficiency was 0.05% and the energy of laser radiation was 120 mJ at pressures of an He–F₂ mixture and of fluorine in this mixture amounting to 3 atm and 8 Torr, respectively.