Lasing in Cs at 894.3 nm pumped by the dissociation of CsAr excimers

Lasing on the 6^sup 2^P^sub 1/2^ [arrow right] 6^sup 2^S^sub 1/2^ (D^sub 1^) resonance transition of atomic Cs at 894.3 nm has been realised in mixtures of Ar, ethane, and Cs vapour by the photoexcitation of ground state Cs -- Ar collision pairs and subsequent dissociation of diatomic, electronically-excited CsAr molecules (excimers). The blue satellites of the alkali D^sub 2^ lines provide a pathway for optically pumping atomic alkali lasers on the principal series (resonance) transitions with broad linewidth (... 2 nm) semiconductor diode lasers.(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)