Abstract

The discovery of ${\text{He}}_2^{+}\left({\text{C}}^2{\prod }_u\right)$ resulted from a study¹ of the feasibility of neutral helium dimer lasers. These lasers (as with the majority of excimer lasers) operate in a pulse afterglow. Such operation limit the power and efficiency of any potential laser and make the lifetime of the lasing molecule critical to the feasibility. Thus the explanation of wepreviously unassigned intense continua seen during arc discharges was sought as it may lead to an excimer laser that did not suffer the disadvantages of afterglow operation.

© 1990 Optical Society of America