CONTINUOUS FREQUENCY TUNING OF A PICOSECOND NEODYMIUM-GLASS LASER IN THE UV AND VUV

The results of an investigation of continuous frequency tuning of a ne odymium laser in the UV and VUV ranges are reported. Generation of the sum frequency of second harmonic radiation and the radiation from a p arametric light generator in the UV region (338-366 nm) is achieved. T he optimal conditions for tuning UV radiation in the range 113.5-117.0 nm in third-harmonic generation processes in xenon and its mixtures w ith other gases are investigated. A third-harmonic generation efficien cy of similar to 5 x 10(-4) and a tuning range > 2600 cm(-1) are obtai ned in the VUV range investigated. (C) 1998 American Institute of Phys ics. [S1063-7842(98)01505-0].