BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS: Feasibility of lasing in the vacuum ultraviolet utilizing neon molecule dications
An analysis is made of experimental data on the formation of Ne22+ molecules in neon under the action of a charged-particle beam or x-ray radiation. It is concluded that high-power high-efficiency lasing may be achieved due to electronic transitions in the Ne22+ ion at the ~ 80 nm wavelength when the specific pump power is ~ 10 MW/cm3 and the neon pressure is ~ 2 atm.