Subnanosecond Pulse Generation in the VUV by Dual-Wavelength Pumped Stimulated Rotational Raman Scattering

A novel scheme to generate a subnanosecond pulse in VUV spectral region is proposed, by applying a dual-wavelength pumping method in conjunction with polarization switching technique to the stimulated rotational Raman scattering process. Optimum conditions for the efficient conversion and short pulse generation are presented through numerical model calculations. It is theoretically shown that the duration of the first anti-Stokes pulse of a VUV pump laser can be shorten to 0.72 ns. Since the anti-Stokes pulse is generated at a frequency within the gain profile of the pump laser, the proposed process is applicable to a seed pulse generation for subnanosecond pulse amplification by the pump laser medium in the VUV region.