This paper addresses the question if a source exploiting amplified spontanous emission from rare gas crystals could provide the high power delivered from gas phase excimer lasers without window problems and with higher efficiency thus smaller dimensions and less demanding excitation facilities. Excimer densities of 5 multiplied by 10**1**8 cm** minus **3 and a light output of 10**7 W at 172, 145 and 128 nm is obtained from electron beam excited rare gas crystals.