Lasing in Cs at 894.3 nm pumped by the dissociation of CsAr excimers

Lasing on the 62P1/2→62S1/2 (D1) resonance transition of atomic Cs at 894.3 nm has been realised in mixtures of Ar, ethane, and Cs vapour by the photoexcitation of ground state Cs–Ar collision pairs and subsequent dissociation of diatomic, electronically-excited CsAr molecules (excimers). The blue satellites of the alkali D2 lines provide a pathway for optically pumping atomic alkali lasers on the principal series (resonance) transitions with broad linewidth (≳2 nm) semiconductor diode lasers.