Dynamics of the population of excimer states in the active medium of an Xe I laser

Absorption probing was used to study the dynamics of the population of the ^1.3∑_u⁺ lower excimer states of the Xe₂* molecule in the active medium of a high-pressure high-power Ar–Xe laser utilizing the 5d–6p transitions in the Xe atom. The first direct experimental evidence was obtained showing that electron beam excitation pumped the upper active levels in the discharge beginning from excited states of the active gas rather than from the ground state. Accumulation of the sum of excited and ionized Xe states in the discharge plasma was observed experimentally for the first time.