CW coherent VUV radiation generated by resonant sum-frequency mixing in metal vapors

Resonant third-order sum-frequency mixing of continuous-wave visible and ultraviolet laser light is investigated in the metal vapors of Sr, Ca, Mg, and Zn. The laser radiation (with the frequencies ₁, ₂, and ₃) is generated by single-mode dye- and argonion lasers. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility is enhanced by tuning the laser frequencies 2₁ or ₁+₂ to a two-photon resonance. The wavelength of the generated coherent VUV radiation (with the frequency _VUV=3₁, _VUV=2₁+₂ or _VUV=₁+₂+₃) is tunable in spectral regions between 133 and 217 nm. For most conversion processes an additional enhancement of the nonlinearity is provided by an autoionizing level or by a highly excited state close to E=_VUV. With laser powers of 0.2–3 W the power of the generated sum frequencies is in the range of 5×10⁵–6×10¹⁰ photons s^–1 (0.5 pW–60 nW).