OBSERVATION OF LASING ON THE 2 J=0-1, 3P-3S-TRANSITIONS AT 26.1-NM AND 30.4-NM IN NEON-LIKE VANADIUM

We report the first observation to our knowledge of lasing at 26.1 and 30.4 nm in neonlike vanadium ions in a recent experiment conducted on the Asterix TV iodine laser at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Quantenopt ik. The two lasing lines have been identified as the 3p(1)S(0)-3s(3)P( 1) and 3p(1)S(0)-3s(1)P(1) transitions in neonlike vanadium ions. The transition at 26.1 nm is the first of the 3p(1)S(0)-3s(3)P(1) transiti ons in neonlike ions that has been observed to lase, and it was observ ed to have a higher gain than the other transition. Spatially resolved measurements showed that the lasing for this transition occurs at a p osition slightly farther from the target surface than for the 3p(1)S(0 )-3s(1)P(1) one.