Feasibility of lasing in the vacuum ultraviolet utilizing neon molecule dications

An analysis is made of experimental data on the formation of Ne$^{2+}_2$ molecules in neon under the action of a charged-particle beam or x-ray radiation. It is concluded that high-power high-efficiency lasing may be achieved due to electronic transitions in the Ne$^{2+}_2$ ion at the $\sim$80 nm wavelength when the specific pump power is $\sim$10 MW/cm$^3$ and the neon pressure is $\sim$2 atm.