Intense laser emission at 3577 A using N$sub 2$--SF$sub 6$ mixtures in a TE nitrogen laser

Intense laser emission at 3577 A (v'=0 of the C$sup 3$$pi$/subu/ state to v''=1 of the B$sup 3$$pi$/subg/ state of the nitrogen molecule) has been demonstrated to take place by an addition of a large quantity of SF$sub 6$ as a foreign gas in a transversely excited nitrogen laser. The output at 3577 A is increased with increasing partial pressure of SF$sub 6$, until a total pressure of up to 250 Torr. With sufficient SF$sub 6$ added, the output at 3371 A is increased by a factor of 1.3 as compared with the case of N$sub 2$ gas alone.