Selection of materials for concentrators designed for optical pumping of ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet lasers

An analysis is made of the concentrating properties of optical systems designed for pumping ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet lasers. The available experimental data on the optical constants are used to find the concentration efficiency of elongated elliptic mirrors made of different materials. In the wavelength range λ > 60 nm the most efficient mirrors are made of aluminum, which has a high refractive index. In the range 300 nm < λ < 60 nm an efficiency of the order of 30-40% is ensured by mirrors made of heavy metals.