Possibility of electric-ionization excitation of the stimulated emission of vacuum ultraviolet radiation in compressed xenon

A theoretical analysis is made of the possibility of the excitation of laser action in compressed xenon subjected to a static electric field causing ionization and irradiated with fast electrons from an external source. A solution of the kinetic equation gives the efficiency of this lasing method and it is found that under optimal conditions it should reach 70–80%. The concentration of excited molecules and the gain at λ ≈ 173 nm are calculated for specific conditions.