Continuously tunable ultraviolet-visible laser source based on a XeCl laser and Raman cell

A novel approach to the development of continuously tunable laser source is presented. Laser output tunable over the spectal range from 300 to 500 nm is proposed to be obtained by SRS conversion of XeCl-laser wavelength in high pressure gas mixture with spectral overlapping of different Stokes lines. The efficiency of such a laser source can reach 1% within entire range of tuning whereas output energy can exceed 1J. The first experiments performed in this area are described.