Source of VUV emission based on beam-heated plasma of GOL-3-II facility

New approach to a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) source based on mirror-confined plasma is presented. A plasma cloud with n(e)=10(16)-10(17) cm(-3) and T-e= 10-50 eV serves as an active medium. Such plasma can be obtained in GOL-3 f acility by means of two-stage heating by relativistic electron beam. Curren t experiments on GOL-3-II facility are described. Results of recent study o f VUV flush from hydrogen and nitrogen plasma with calculations of ionisati on balance and radiation power are presented. Transitions in Li-like ions f ar recombination scheme and in Ne-like ions for collision excitation scheme are considered as a candidates for coherent VUV generation. Prospects of p opulation inversion and gain achievement are discussed.