Dielectric barrier discharge pumped N(2) laser

A pulsed transverse dielectric barrier discharge has been used to excite N(2)/He (1:10) gas mixtures. Laser action in 337.1 nm was attained at pressures between 400 mbars and 1.3 bars. The maximum pulse energy was 1.4 μJ, with an efficiency of 0.002% and a pulse width of 8 ns.