LI-2 AND NA-2 3-SIGMA-G+-3-SIGMA-U+ EXCIMER EMISSION

Ab initio calculations show the 3Σg +-3Σu+ in Li2 and Na2 dimers to be primarily a near-infrared continuum with respective ν′ =0 lifetimes of 62 and 15 nsec. The peak stimulated emission cross section for ν′ =0 is 4.5×l0-16 at 1.3μ for Li 2 and 1.8×10-15 cm2 at 0.83μ for Na2. These calculations suggest a tunable high gain, near-infrared laser excimer if the 3Σg+ state can be populated sufficiently rapidly.