Numerical modeling of an atomic xenon laser

A self-consistent numerical model is constructed for a laser utilizing electronic transitions in the xenon atom. It is found that the main mechanisms of pumping the upper active level are electron impact excitation of a metastable state of Xe and transfer of excitation from argon. A numerical analysis is made of the dependences of the efficiency and output energy on the beam current, on the total and partial gas pressures, and on the applied electric field. The eifective constant for quenching of the Xe(5d ) level by argon atoms is estimated.