Active volume scaling of gold vapor laser oscillating in ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet spectral ranges

Using six laser tubes with various diameters, lengths, and volumes of the active zone, an investigation on an ultraviolet gold vapor laser is undertaken. We achieve a maximal average output power of 1.07 W at 312.2 nm wavelength. We also obtain a specific average laser power of 56.3 mW.cm− 3, which is more than 6 times higher than the value described so far. Polarized high-beam-quality laser radiation is generated for the first time through an unstable cavity equipped with a Glan prism. In addition, the sum frequency mixing of the fundamental 312.2-nm and 627.8-nm output yields laser oscillation at a new spectral 208.5-nm line. This laser source constitutes a cheaper alternative of excimer and other UV lasers for materials surface modification and photochemistry applications.