Two new lasers share short‐wavelength record

The shortest‐wavelength laser light yet obtained has been produced by stimulated emission in the molecular‐hydrogen Werner bands. These 1160–1240‐å transitions in the vacuum ultraviolet correspond to photon energies of about 10 eV, which are suitable for photochemical, photodissociation and photoionization experiments in most molecules. Lasers with output in this frequency range have been reported independently and nearly simultaneously by two different groups—Ronald W. Waynant of the Naval Research Laboratory, and Rod Hodgson and Russell Dreyfus of the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. Both publications are in the 28 February issue of Physical Review Letters (pages 533 and 536 respectively).