Amplification of λ = 172 nm radiation in atmospheric-pressure xenon excited by a high-power proton beam

Excitation of atmospheric-pressure xenon by a proton beam (E = 500 keV, j = 200 A/cm², τ_0.5 = 80 ns) resulted in amplification due to a transition in the xenon dimer (λ = 172 nm). The maximum gain was 6 m ^{– 1} at the xenon pressure of 3 atm when the pump power density was 50 MW/cm³.