Low-temperature lasing of mercury monohalides

Lasing was obtained for the first time in mercury monohalides at active medium temperatures $\lesssim100^\circ C$. Stimulated emission due to the $B$–$X$ electronic transition in mercury monobromide ($\lambda_l\sim 502$ nm) and mercury monochloride ($\lambda_l\sim552$ and $558$ nm) was excited by broad-band optical pumping of $CF_3HgBr$ and $CF_3HgCl$ vapors by radiation from a linearly stabilized surface discharge.